Palestinians pray during the funeral of relatives, killed in Israeli strikes, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, Gaza's civil defence agency said that 20 people waiting for aid in the south of the Palestinian territory were killed by Israeli troops. AFP
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that at least 50 people were killed and more than 200 wounded as thousands of Palestinians gathered to receive flour at a charity aid centre in the morning.
"Israeli drones fired at the citizens. Some minutes later, Israeli tanks fired several shells at the citizens, which led to a large number of martyrs and wounded," he said.
Israeli occupation forces have repeatedly opened fire on crowds trying to reach food distribution points run by a separate US- and Israeli-backed aid group since the centres opened in May. Local health officials say scores have been killed and hundreds wounded.
In those instances, the Israeli army has acknowledged firing warning shots at people it claimed had suspiciously approached its forces.
UN agencies and major aid groups have rejected the new system, saying it cannot meet the mounting needs in Gaza and that it violates humanitarian principles by allowing Israel to control who has access to aid. Experts have warned of widespread famine in Gaza.
The UN-run network has delivered aid across Gaza throughout the 20-month Israeli genocidal war, but has faced major obstacles since Israel loosened a total blockade it had imposed from early March until mid-May.
UN officials say Israeli military restrictions, a breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting make it difficult to deliver the aid that Israel has allowed in.
Israel’s war on Gaza since October 2023 has killed over 55,300 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The ministry also reported that as a result of the deadly attack, "51 martyrs and more than 200 injuries have arrived at Nasser Medical Complex, including 20 in critical condition."
Dr Mohammed Saqer, head of nursing at the hospital, said to the BBC that the individuals arriving at the hospital had been attacked by “tanks” while waiting for food.
* This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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