At least 21 people were killed and 175 wounded on Sunday while seeking aid from an Israeli-backed foundation in the Gaza Strip, according to a Red Cross-run hospital that received the bodies.
The shooting occurred near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution site at a roundabout in an Israeli-controlled area. Witnesses said Israeli forces opened fire on crowds moving toward the aid center.
"There were many martyrs, including women," said Ibrahim Abu Saoud, a 40-year-old eyewitness who was about 300 meters away from the military. "We weren't able to help him," he added, referring to a young man who died at the scene from gunshot wounds.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation dismissed reports of casualties in an earlier statement, saying it distributed 16 truckloads of aid "without incident" and called reports of "deaths, mass injuries and chaos" false. The foundation says its private security contractors did not fire on crowds.
The Israeli military has acknowledged firing warning shots but did not immediately comment on Sunday's incident. Multiple witnesses have previously reported Israeli troops firing on crowds near delivery sites.
This marks an escalation in violence around aid distribution. Before Sunday, at least six people had been killed and more than 50 wounded at similar sites, according to local health officials.
The distribution hub is part of a new aid system devised jointly by Israel and the US, which they claim prevents Hamas from diverting assistance.
UN agencies and major aid groups refuse to acknowledge the system, arguing it violates humanitarian principles by allowing Israel to control aid recipients and forcing dangerous relocations to distribution sites.
Experts warn the territory faces full-blown famine without increased aid access.
The shooting occurred near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution site at a roundabout in an Israeli-controlled area. Witnesses said Israeli forces opened fire on crowds moving toward the aid center.
"There were many martyrs, including women," said Ibrahim Abu Saoud, a 40-year-old eyewitness who was about 300 meters away from the military. "We weren't able to help him," he added, referring to a young man who died at the scene from gunshot wounds.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation dismissed reports of casualties in an earlier statement, saying it distributed 16 truckloads of aid "without incident" and called reports of "deaths, mass injuries and chaos" false. The foundation says its private security contractors did not fire on crowds.
The Israeli military has acknowledged firing warning shots but did not immediately comment on Sunday's incident. Multiple witnesses have previously reported Israeli troops firing on crowds near delivery sites.
This marks an escalation in violence around aid distribution. Before Sunday, at least six people had been killed and more than 50 wounded at similar sites, according to local health officials.
The distribution hub is part of a new aid system devised jointly by Israel and the US, which they claim prevents Hamas from diverting assistance.
UN agencies and major aid groups refuse to acknowledge the system, arguing it violates humanitarian principles by allowing Israel to control aid recipients and forcing dangerous relocations to distribution sites.
Experts warn the territory faces full-blown famine without increased aid access.
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