At least 20 people were killed and 155 others were wounded in Gaza City on Thursday night in an attack on a crowd awaiting food aid, according to officials from the Gazan Ministry of Health.
The health ministry has stated that the death toll is anticipated to increase, as numerous among the 150 injured are in critical condition.
Deadly Gaza Attack Unfolds Near Aid Distribution Point
The incident occurred near the Kuwait Roundabout, a known gathering spot for residents awaiting essential food supplies. Videos circulating on social media depicted a chaotic scene, with motionless bodies strewn across the ground. However, the cause of the bloodshed remained unclear as of the initial reports.
The Gazan ministry labeled the attack as "a new, premeditated massacre" and attributed it to Israeli forces. However, the Israeli military promptly refuted these claims.
"The reports that the IDF attacked dozens of Gazans at an aid distribution point are false," stated the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in a response. "As the IDF assesses the incident with the thoroughness that it deserves, we urge the media to do the same and rely on credible information."
According to the Gazan ministry's statement, the casualties resulted from Israeli forces targeting civilians waiting for humanitarian aid. Some of the wounded were transported to Shifa Hospital, one of Gaza's main medical facilities, struggling to cope with the influx of injuries.
"Medical teams are unable to deal with the extent and type of injuries that are arriving at hospitals in northern Gaza due to the poor medical and human resources," the ministry stated.
Additionally, earlier on Thursday, Palestinian health officials reported eight deaths in an airstrike on an aid distribution center in the Al-Nuseirat camp in central Gaza.
Gaza's Humanitarian Crisis Intensifies as Death Toll Rises
This incident unfolds amid a backdrop of heightened tensions and sporadic violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Gaza has faced significant challenges, including ongoing Israeli bombardment and a blockade, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the territory. Efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have so far been unsuccessful.
The distribution of aid in Gaza has been marred by various obstacles, including disagreements over inspection protocols and accusations of food diversion by Hamas, the militant group in control of the enclave.
Thursday's tragedy evokes memories of similar incidents in the recent past. Last month, hundreds of people were killed and injured in a stampede amid Israeli gunfire when aid convoys attempted deliveries in Gaza City.
With the conflict entering its sixth month, the United Nations has warned that approximately 576,000 people in Gaza are on the brink of famine. The ongoing conflict traces back to a Hamas-led attack on southern Israeli towns on October 7th, which resulted in significant casualties and hostage-taking, according to Israeli reports.
Since then, Israel's military offensive in Gaza has resulted in a staggering death toll, with over 31,000 people killed and more than 71,500 wounded, as reported by Gaza health authorities.
