At least 21 Palestinians were reported killed and another 175 wounded this morning while heading to an Israeli-backed aid distribution hub in the Gaza Strip, according to a nearby Red Cross hospital that received the casualties.
An Associated Press reporter on the scene saw dozens of people being treated at the hospital, though officials did not specify who opened fire on them.
This latest incident comes after weeks of chaotic and sometimes violent scenes at the aid site.
According to local health officials, at least six people had been killed and more than 50 wounded in previous incidents surrounding the distribution center.
Meanwhile, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which manages the aid hub, has strongly denied these reports.
In a statement, the Foundation said, “Our aid was again distributed today without incident. We are aware of rumors being actively fomented by Hamas suggesting deaths and injuries today. They are untrue and fabricated.”
The Foundation added that it has distributed over 4.7 million meals over the past week, including 887,000 at the Tel Sultan site this morning.
It also stated that its private security contractors did not fire on crowds, and the Israeli military has only acknowledged firing warning shots in the past.
Meanwhile, images and videos circulated online showed displaced Palestinians pushing carts with bodies near a food distribution center in Rafah, raising further questions about the sequence of events.
