At least 20 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military as they attempted to collect aid near a food distribution point in Gaza, according to local officials, marking the latest casualties of a new system to provide supplies that critics say is unethical, chaotic and dangerous.
Palestinian witnesses said Israeli forces opened fire on Tuesday morning as people went to receive supplies from a site in central Gaza run by the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an Israeli and US-backed group.
The authorities added that more than 120 others were wounded in the incident.
The latest attack comes hours after Israeli forces killed 14 Palestinians who had gathered at the GHF site in southern Rafah.
The deaths bring to over 110 the number of people killed while trying to find food in Gaza since May 27, when the GHF became responsible for civilian food provision. More than 1,000 others have been injured.
Earlier this month, 31 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire as they went to receive food.
The Israeli military alleged it had fired warning shots towards several suspects who advanced towards troops.
The Israeli military resumed bombardment of Gaza on March 18, killing thousands of Palestinians, and injuring many others, after it shattered the 2-month ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian group Hamas and the deal on the exchange of Israeli captives with Palestinian abductees.
At least 54,927 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and another 126,615 individuals injured in the brutal Israeli military onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the besieged coastal territory.
