According to Palestinian medical reports, at least 59 individuals have died and over 200 have been injured due to Israeli tank fire on a crowd seeking food aid in the Gaza Strip.
Source: Reuters
Details: It has been reported that Israeli tanks opened fire on a crowd trying to receive humanitarian assistance from trucks on Tuesday, leading to at least 59 fatalities according to medical personnel.
Social media footage shows numerous mangled bodies lying on the street in Khan Yunis, a city in the southern Gaza Strip.
Witnesses interviewed by Reuters stated that Israeli tanks fired at least two shells into the crowd of thousands gathered on the main eastern road in Khan Yunis, hoping to receive food from humanitarian aid trucks.
"They let us move forward and then the tank shells started falling," said a witness at Naser Hospital, where injured victims were lying on the floor and in hallways due to a lack of space.
Palestinian medical officials reported that at least 59 people died and 221 were injured, with at least 20 in critical condition.
This incident marks the deadliest single day since humanitarian aid was resumed in the Gaza Strip in May.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated they are investigating the circumstances of the incident.
According to the IDF: "This morning, a crowd was observed near a humanitarian aid truck stuck in the Khan Yunis area, close to Israel Defense Forces operating in the region.
The Israeli military is aware of reports regarding casualties as a result of IDF fire following the crowd's approach. The details of the incident are being investigated. The IDF expresses regret for any harm caused to uninvolved individuals and aims to minimize harm while ensuring the safety of our troops."
Details: The Palestinian Ministry of Health stated that since late May, 397 Palestinians attempting to receive food aid have been killed, and over 3000 have been injured.
Reuters notes that this incident is the latest in a series of almost daily mass killings of Palestinians seeking aid over the past three weeks since Israel partially lifted a total blockade imposed for nearly three months.
A new phase of the war in the Gaza Strip began in October 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli statements. Subsequent Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have reportedly resulted in nearly 55,000 civilian deaths, causing mass displacement and famine.
