ISLAMABAD: The Gaza civil defence agency said Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians waiting to enter a US-backed food distribution centre on Wednesday, killing 31 and wounding “about 200”.
“We transported at least 31 martyrs and about 200 wounded as a result of Israeli tank and drone fire on thousands of citizens… on their way to receive food from the American aid centre,” civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.
The Israeli army did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.
Restrictions imposed on media in the Gaza Strip and the difficulties of access on the ground mean AFP is not able to independently verify the death tolls announced by the civil defence agency.
Bassal said thousands of Palestinians had been gathering since 2 am (2300 GMT Tuesday) in the hope of reaching the US and Israeli-backed food distribution centre.
Heavy fire targeting civilians
“Israeli tanks fired several times, then at around 5:30 am intensified their fire, coinciding with heavy fire from drones targeting civilians,” he said.
Aljazeera, quoting Gaza’s Civil Defence, reported that Israeli forces have shot and killed at least 31 aid seekers at a food distribution site near the so-called Netzarim Corridor, south of Gaza City.
There have been a series of deadly shootings since the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) first opened aid distribution points in the Palestinian territory on May 27, as Israel faced mounting international condemnation over the humanitarian conditions, according to AFP.
