At least 21 people have been killed and dozens injured in an incident near an aid distribution center in southern Gaza, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). 

The organization reported a mass casualty influx, with 179 wounded individuals, including women and children, arriving at a Red Cross field hospital in Rafah early Sunday.

The circumstances surrounding the tragedy remain disputed. Hamas-run civil defense officials in Gaza blamed the deaths on Israeli gunfire, stating that at least 31 people had been killed and many more wounded. 

However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied firing at civilians, releasing drone footage showing armed and masked men attacking aid seekers in Khan Younis, which the BBC has not been able to verify.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which operates the distribution site, also rejected claims of casualties at its location, accusing Hamas of spreading false information.

Local reports suggest many victims suffered gunshot and shrapnel wounds, with emergency responders overwhelmed by the scale of injuries. 

The Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) team assisting at Nasser Hospital described the blood bank as nearly depleted, with medical staff donating their own blood to help treat patients.

A second incident was reported near another aid center in central Gaza, where the Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed 14 injuries.

As humanitarian conditions deteriorate, the situation remains volatile, with conflicting accounts fueling uncertainty. Israeli forces insist they did not target civilians, but eyewitnesses claim Palestinians were shot while attempting to collect aid.

Source: BBC

SMS/