Palestinians say Israeli fire kills 12 near aid sites; Israel says it fired warning shots
Witnesses said Israeli forces had fired on them at a roundabout in nearby city of Rafah as they went to get food from a US-backed aid group
Israeli fire killed at least 12 people and wounded others as they headed towards two aid distribution points in Gaza run by an Israeli and US-backed group, Palestinian health officials and witnesses said on Sunday. Israel’s military said it fired warning shots at people who approached its forces.
The past two weeks have seen frequent shootings near the new hubs where thousands of Palestinians – desperate after 20 months of war – are being directed to collect food. Witnesses say nearby Israeli troops have opened fire, and more than 80 people have been killed, according to Gaza hospital officials.
Eleven of the latest bodies were brought to Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis. Palestinian witnesses said Israeli forces fired on people at a roundabout around a kilometre (half a mile) from a site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in nearby Rafah.
Israel’s military said it fired warning shots at approaching “suspects” who ignored warnings to turn away. It said the shooting happened in an area that is considered an active combat zone at night.
Al-Awda Hospital said it received the body of a man and 29 people who were wounded near another GHF aid distribution point in central Gaza. The military said it fired warning shots in the area at around 6.40am, but did not see any casualties.