Israeli forces have killed more than 51 Palestinians and wounded many more after opening fire near an aid distribution site in southern Gaza, witnesses and rescuers say. The Hamas-run civil defence agency said Israeli troops fired on crowds near the aid site in Khan Younis. More than 200 people were reportedly injured. The Israeli military has told the BBC it is looking into the reports. It is the latest, and potentially the deadliest, of the almost daily shootings that have been taking place recently near aid distribution sites in Gaza. Witnesses say that Israeli forces opened fire and shelled an area near a junction to the east of Khan Younis, where thousands of Palestinians had been gathering in the hope of getting flour from a World Food Programme (WFP) site, which also includes a community kitchen nearby. A local journalist and eyewitnesses said Israeli drones fired two missiles, followed shortly after by a shell from an Israeli tank positioned between 400 and 500m away from the crowd. The explosions caused many casualties. The crowd had assembled near a key road leading to the town of Bani Suheila, an area that has seen weeks of ongoing Israeli military operations. Nasser Hospital, the main functioning medical facility in the area, has been overwhelmed by the number of casualties. It is so overcrowded that the many wounded are lying on the floor as medical staff treat their injuries. In a statement the IDF said "a gathering was identified adjacent to an aid distribution truck that got stuck in the area of Khan Younis, and in proximity to IDF troops operating in the area." It said it was "aware of reports regarding a number of injured individuals from IDF fire following the crowd's approach" and the incident was under review. On Monday, the UN human rights chief Volker Turk said Israel was weaponising food and called for an investigation into the shootings near aid sites. Addressing the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, he said: "Israel's means and methods of warfare are inflicting horrifying, unconscionable suffering on Palestinians in Gaza."
Israeli forces kill 51 Palestinians waiting for aid in Gaza, rescuers say
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"Israeli Forces Open Fire Near Aid Site in Gaza, Resulting in 51 Deaths"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Israeli forces have reportedly killed more than 51 Palestinians and wounded over 200 others after opening fire near an aid distribution site in southern Gaza, according to witnesses and rescuers. This incident occurred in Khan Younis, where many individuals had gathered in hopes of receiving flour from a World Food Programme site that also includes a community kitchen. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the Israeli military fired upon the crowd, which had formed near a key road leading to Bani Suheila. The situation escalated when Israeli drones reportedly launched two missiles, followed by artillery fire from a tank positioned at a distance of 400 to 500 meters away. The resulting explosions led to numerous casualties, overwhelming the local Nasser Hospital, which is the main operational medical facility in the area. The hospital has been inundated with wounded individuals, with many lying on the floor as medical personnel strive to provide care amidst the chaos.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have acknowledged the incident, stating that they were aware of the crowd's approach to a stuck aid distribution truck and that they are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the reported injuries. This incident is part of a troubling trend of violence near aid distribution points in Gaza, which has been ongoing and increasingly deadly. The United Nations' human rights chief, Volker Turk, has condemned Israel's actions, suggesting that they are effectively weaponizing food and inflicting severe suffering on the Palestinian population. He has called for a thorough investigation into these shootings to address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. The ongoing conflict continues to raise alarms among international observers regarding the protection of civilians and the conduct of military operations in densely populated areas, particularly in light of the dire humanitarian needs of those affected by the violence.
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