A total of 31 people were killed and over 170 wounded on Sunday while heading to receive food aid in the Gaza Strip. According to health officials and witnesses, Israeli forces opened fire on the crowds approximately one kilometre from a site run by an Israeli-backed foundation. The foundation, supported by both Israel and the United States, has denied previous reports of chaos and gunfire around its distribution points. All of these sites are located within an Israeli military zone, where independent media has no access.

The incident was one of the deadliest surrounding the new aid distribution system, which has been in operation for less than a week. While the Israeli military stated that its forces did not fire at civilians near or within the site, an anonymous Israeli military official told international media that troops fired warning shots at several suspects approaching them about a kilometre from the distribution point.

Red Cross Comments

The International Committee of the Red Cross reported that its field hospital in the southern city of Rafah received 179 casualties, including women and children. Among them, 21 were declared dead on arrival, while most others suffered gunshot or shrapnel wounds.

Hamas is now seeking amendments to the latest U.S.-proposed ceasefire plan for Gaza, according to senior officials. However, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff called the response sent by Hamas “completely unacceptable” to both the United States and Israel.