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Gaza: 26 killed in Israeli tank fire near aid centre, medics say | Gaza: 26 killed in Israeli tank fire near aid centre, medics say |
(32 minutes later) | |
A file picture shows people seeking aid at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution point in Rafah on Tuesday | A file picture shows people seeking aid at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution point in Rafah on Tuesday |
Twenty-six people have been killed and 150 injured in Israeli tank shelling and gunfire near an aid distribution centre in Rafah, southern Gaza, medics and residents say. | |
Mohammed Ghareeb, a local journalist in Rafah, told the BBC that thousands of Palestinians had gathered near the aid centre when Israeli tanks approached and opened fire on the crowd. | |
Local journalists and activists shared footage of bodies and wounded people being transported on donkey carts to the Red Cross field hospital in the al-Mawasi area. | |
The Israel Defences Forces said it was "currently unaware of injuries caused by IDF fire within the Humanitarian Aid distribution site. The matter is still under review." | |
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. | 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, a doctor at the field hospital said. | |
The BBC is examining footage of bodies being carried on carts and in the back of lorries to Nasser hospital. | |
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". | 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 BBC has contacted the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation about the reports. | The BBC has contacted the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation about the reports. |
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." |