Medics said on Monday that Israeli tanks fired into a crowd trying to get aid from trucks in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 59 people.
Video shared on social media showed around a dozen mangled bodies lying in a street in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. The Israeli military acknowledged firing in the area and said it was looking into the incident.
Eyewitnesses interviewed by Reuters said Israeli tanks had fired at least two shells at a crowd of thousands, who had gathered on the main eastern road through Khan Yunis in the hope of getting food from aid trucks that use the route. Gaza’s health authorities are wholly controlled by Hamas and cannot be verified by a third, independent party.
“All of a sudden, they let us move forward and made everyone gather, and then shells started falling, tank shells,” said Alaa, an eyewitness, interviewed by Reuters at Nasser Hospital, where wounded victims lay sprawled on the floor and in corridors due to the lack of space.
“No one is looking at these people with mercy. The people are dying, they are being torn apart, to get food for their children. Look at these people, all these people are torn to get flour to feed their children.”
Medics said at least 59 people were killed and 200 wounded, at least 20 of them in critical condition. Casualties were being rushed into the hospital in civilian cars, rickshaws, and donkey carts.
In a statement, the IDF said: “Earlier today, a gathering was identified adjacent to an aid distribution truck that got stuck in the area of Khan Yunis, and in proximity to IDF troops operating in the area.
“The IDF is aware of reports regarding a number of injured individuals from IDF fire following the crowd’s approach. The details of the incident are under review. The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and operates to minimize harm as much as possible to them while maintaining the safety of our troops.”
Medics said at least 14 other people were also killed in separate gunfire and airstrikes elsewhere in the enclave, taking Tuesday's death toll to at least 65.
Hundreds of Palestinians reportedly killed trying to reach GHF sites
Since Israel partially lifted the blockade on the enclave, it has been channeling much of the aid it is now allowing into Gaza through a new US and Israel-backed group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which operates a handful of distribution sites in areas guarded by Israeli forces.
The United Nations rejects the system as inadequate, dangerous, and a violation of humanitarian impartiality rules. Israel says it is needed to prevent Hamas fighters from diverting aid.
Gaza authorities say hundreds of Palestinians have been killed trying to reach the GHF's sites, including 23 people killed by Israeli gunfire on Monday in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
The GHF said in a press release late on Monday that it had distributed more than three million meals at its four distribution sites without incident.
Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report.