At least 31 Palestinians were killed and more than 100 others injured in southern Gaza on Sunday, near a humanitarian aid distribution site operated by an American company, according to local health officials. Many of the wounded remain in critical condition. In a separate incident, three Palestinians were killed in an attack on a food distribution centre along the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza.

Witnesses claimed that Israeli forces opened fire as crowds gathered to collect food. The Israeli military denied firing on civilians, and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which oversees the Rafah aid site, said aid had been distributed without incident. It accused Hamas of disseminating “fake reports”.

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), wrote on X that international medical teams in Gaza had reported “mass casualties including scores of injured and killed among starving civilians due to gunshots”.

The Israeli military stated that an initial investigation found no evidence of its troops firing on civilians near or within the aid distribution site.

Save the Children condemned Israel’s militarised approach to aid delivery in Gaza, calling the killings a “blatant and shocking disregard of international humanitarian law”.

In total, at least 54 Palestinians were reported killed across Gaza on Sunday, including those at the food distribution centres.

Meanwhile, in Gaza City, Israeli airstrikes have levelled at least 70 residential buildings over the past 48 hours. The city is also facing a severe water crisis, with supplies reportedly falling below 25% of the minimum requirement. Local authorities said 75% of the city’s water wells have been destroyed by Israeli forces since October 2023.

Al Jazeera.