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| Gaza: 26 killed in Israeli tank fire near aid centre, medics say | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A file picture shows people seeking aid at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution point in Rafah on Tuesday | |
| Twenty-six Palestinians have been killed and 150 injured in Israeli tank shelling and gunfire near an aid distribution centre in Rafah, southern Gaza, according to medics and local residents. | |
| Mohammed Ghareeb, a local journalist in Rafah, told the BBC that thousands of Palestinians had gathered near a US-backed humanitarian aid distribution centre when Israeli tanks approached and opened fire on the crowd. | |
| Local journalists and activists shared harrowing footage of bodies and wounded individuals being transported on donkey carts to the Red Cross field hospital in the al-Mawasi area of Rafah, as rescue teams were reportedly unable to reach the scene. | |
| The BBC has contacted the IDF for a response. | The BBC has contacted the IDF for a response. |
| Mr Ghareeb said the crowd of Palestinians had gathered near Al-Alam roundabout around 04:30 local time (02:30 BST), close to the aid centre run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, shortly before Israeli tanks appeared and opened fire. | Mr Ghareeb said the crowd of Palestinians had gathered near Al-Alam roundabout around 04:30 local time (02:30 BST), close to the aid centre run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, shortly before Israeli tanks appeared and opened fire. |
| "The dead and wounded lay on the ground for a long time," Mr Ghareeb said. | "The dead and wounded lay on the ground for a long time," Mr Ghareeb said. |
| "Rescue crews could not access the area, which is under Israeli control. This forced residents to use donkey carts to transport victims to the field hospital." | "Rescue crews could not access the area, which is under Israeli control. This forced residents to use donkey carts to transport victims to the field hospital." |
| The Red Cross field hospital said 26 people had been killed and 150 injured. | |
| Efforts were under way to transfer the casualties to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis for further treatment, the doctor added. | Efforts were under way to transfer the casualties to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis for further treatment, the doctor added. |
| Civil Defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told the AFP news agency that more than 100 people were wounded "due to gunfire from Israeli vehicles towards thousands of citizens". | |
| The incident underscores the dire humanitarian conditions in Rafah, where recent Israeli military operations have severely limited access to aid and emergency services. | The incident underscores the dire humanitarian conditions in Rafah, where recent Israeli military operations have severely limited access to aid and emergency services. |
| On Saturday, crowds of civilians rushed aid trucks in Gaza, the World Food Programme has said, as hunger and desperation create chaotic scenes. | On Saturday, crowds of civilians rushed aid trucks in Gaza, the World Food Programme has said, as hunger and desperation create chaotic scenes. |
| The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is a new US and Israel-backed organisation that has been distributing food at designated sites across Gaza. Israel set up the plan after accusing Hamas of stealing aid, which the group denies. | The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is a new US and Israel-backed organisation that has been distributing food at designated sites across Gaza. Israel set up the plan after accusing Hamas of stealing aid, which the group denies. |
| The GHF said it distributed two million meals this week, which the BBC has not been able to independently verify. | The GHF said it distributed two million meals this week, which the BBC has not been able to independently verify. |
| This comes as the US attempts to broker a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. | This comes as the US attempts to broker a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. |
| Hamas responded to the US ceasefire proposal by saying it is prepared to release 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 dead hostages in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners. | Hamas responded to the US ceasefire proposal by saying it is prepared to release 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 dead hostages in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners. |
| However, the group also repeated its demands for a permanent truce, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and guarantees for the continuous flow of humanitarian aid. None of these are in the deal on the table. | However, the group also repeated its demands for a permanent truce, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and guarantees for the continuous flow of humanitarian aid. None of these are in the deal on the table. |
| Hamas said it had submitted its response to the US draft proposed by Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's special envoy for the Middle East. | Hamas said it had submitted its response to the US draft proposed by Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's special envoy for the Middle East. |
| Witkoff said the proposal was "unacceptable and only takes us backward" and insisted the US deal was "the only way we can close a 60-day ceasefire deal in the coming days." | Witkoff said the proposal was "unacceptable and only takes us backward" and insisted the US deal was "the only way we can close a 60-day ceasefire deal in the coming days." |