This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c991j01lym3o

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
31 killed after Israeli forces attack near Gaza aid centre, Hamas-run health authorities say Red Cross says at least 21 killed and dozens shot in Gaza aid incident
(about 3 hours later)
Bodies were brought to Nasser hospital after the incidentBodies were brought to Nasser hospital after the incident
Thirty-one people have been killed and more than 150 injured in Israeli gunfire near an aid distribution centre in Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry and medics say. A "mass casualty influx" of people, many with gunshot or shrapnel wounds, was received at a Red Cross field hospital in southern Gaza, the organisation said, following disputed reports about an incident near an aid distribution centre in Rafah.
Reports said one incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday as people were queueing for aid in Rafah in the south of Gaza. Another incident was said to have happened near a separate aid centre in central Gaza, with reports of 14 injured. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said 21 people were "declared dead upon arrival" while women and children were among 179 cases.
The group that is providing the aid, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), has denied the claims and said they had been spread by Hamas. The organisation's statement came after the Hamas-run civil defence agency in Gaza said at least 31 people were killed and many more wounded in the incident, which it blamed on "Israeli gunfire" targeting civilians.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said findings from an initial inquiry said its forces had not fired at Gazans while they were near or within aid points. But the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said findings from an initial inquiry showed its forces had not fired at people while they were near or within the aid centre.
"In recent hours, false reports have been spread, including serious allegations against the IDF regarding fire toward Gazan residents in the area of the humanitarian aid distribution site in the Gaza Strip," the IDF said. The IDF also released drone footage it said showed armed and masked men throwing stones and shooting at civilians while they were collecting aid in the nearby city of Khan Younis. The BBC could not immediately verify the footage.
Israel does not allow international news organisations, including the BBC, into Gaza, making verifying what is happening in the territory difficult.
The group that runs the aid distribution centre, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), also denied the claims of injuries and casualties at its site and said they had been spread by Hamas.
As of Sunday evening, the situation on the ground remained unclear.
In its statement, the ICRC said the "Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah received a mass casualty influx of 179 cases, including women and children" early in the morning on Sunday.
It said "the majority suffered gunshot or shrapnel wounds", and "twenty-one patients were declared dead upon arrival". It is unclear if the number of people killed reported by the ICRC is separate to the Hamas health ministry's reports.
"All patients said they had been trying to reach an aid distribution site," the ICRC said.
The ICRC said it was the "highest number of weapon-wounded in a single incident since the establishment of the field hospital over a year ago", and that it "far surpassed" the capacity of the 60-bed facility.
The IDF said in a statement: "In recent hours, false reports have been spread, including serious allegations against the IDF regarding fire toward Gazan residents in the area of the humanitarian aid distribution site in the Gaza Strip.
"Findings from an initial inquiry indicate that the IDF did not fire at civilians while they were near or within the humanitarian aid distribution site and that reports to this effect are false," it added."Findings from an initial inquiry indicate that the IDF did not fire at civilians while they were near or within the humanitarian aid distribution site and that reports to this effect are false," it added.
As of Sunday evening, the situation remained unclear with regards to reports of the incidents near aid distribution centres in Rafah and the Netzarim Corridor. Another incident was said to have happened near a separate aid centre in the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza, with the Palestinian Red Crescent reporting 14 injured.
The BBC was contacted by doctors at the Nasser hospital who said they had received about 200 people with injuries caused by bullets or shrapnel.The BBC was contacted by doctors at the Nasser hospital who said they had received about 200 people with injuries caused by bullets or shrapnel.
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.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 BBC has examined footage of bodies being carried on carts and in the back of lorries to Nasser Hospital.The BBC has examined footage of bodies being carried on carts and in the back of lorries to Nasser Hospital.
Gaza's health ministry said more than 200 cases had arrived at hospitals, including 31 dead.Gaza's health ministry said more than 200 cases had arrived at hospitals, including 31 dead.
Seventy-nine of the injured were brought to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, according to the emergency department, medical staff from British charity Medical Aid for Palestinians reported.Seventy-nine of the injured were brought to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, according to the emergency department, medical staff from British charity Medical Aid for Palestinians reported.
⁠Those killed and injured "were primarily struck by live gunfire, with many victims sustaining direct shots to the head or chest", the charity's staff said.⁠Those killed and injured "were primarily struck by live gunfire, with many victims sustaining direct shots to the head or chest", the charity's staff said.
Injured Palestinians were being brought to the Nasser Hospital after the incident
Victoria Rose, a British surgeon who has been working at Nasser Hospital, recorded a video mid-morning in which she motions to the beds with patients behind her and says "all the bays are full and they're all gunshot wounds".Victoria Rose, a British surgeon who has been working at Nasser Hospital, recorded a video mid-morning in which she motions to the beds with patients behind her and says "all the bays are full and they're all gunshot wounds".
The GHF, which distributes aid at these sites, denied any incident occurred near its distribution centres.The GHF, which distributes aid at these sites, denied any incident occurred near its distribution centres.
An IDF soldier in Rafah contacted the BBC to say that Israeli soldiers did fire near the crowd, but not at them, and that no-one was hit.An IDF soldier in Rafah contacted the BBC to say that Israeli soldiers did fire near the crowd, but not at them, and that no-one was hit.
The IDF blamed Hamas, saying it "does everything in its power to undermine food distribution efforts in the Gaza Strip.
"Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization that starves and endangers the population in order to preserve its control over the Gaza Strip. As part of its brutal behavior and its attempts to disrupt humanitarian aid, Hamas directly harms the residents of Gaza.
"The IDF calls on the media to be cautious with information published by the Hamas terrorist organization, as proven in several previous incidents."
BBC Verify: How controversial US-Israeli backed Gaza aid plan turned to chaosBBC Verify: How controversial US-Israeli backed Gaza aid plan turned to chaos
Mohammed Ghareeb, a journalist in Rafah, told the BBC that Palestinians had gathered near the aid centre run by the GHF when Israeli tanks approached and opened fire on the crowd.Mohammed Ghareeb, a journalist in Rafah, told the BBC that Palestinians had gathered near the aid centre run by the GHF when Israeli tanks approached and opened fire on the crowd.
Mr Ghareeb said the crowd of Palestinians were near Al-Alam roundabout around 04:30 local time (02:30 BST), close to the aid centre run by GHF, shortly before Israeli tanks appeared and opened fire.Mr Ghareeb said the crowd of Palestinians were near Al-Alam roundabout around 04:30 local time (02:30 BST), close to the aid centre run by GHF, shortly before Israeli tanks appeared and opened fire.
"The dead and wounded lay on the ground for a long time," he said."The dead and wounded lay on the ground for a long time," he 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."
Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza's main emergency service the Civil Defence, told AFP news agency that more than 100 people were wounded "due to gunfire from Israeli vehicles towards thousands of citizens".Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza's main emergency service the Civil Defence, told AFP news agency that more than 100 people were wounded "due to gunfire from Israeli vehicles towards thousands of citizens".
Injured Palestinians were being brought to the Nasser Hospital after the incident
The incidents underscore the dire humanitarian conditions in Rafah, where recent Israeli military operations have severely limited access to aid and emergency services.The incidents underscore 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 into Gaza, the World Food Programme said, as hunger and desperation created chaotic scenes.On Saturday, crowds of civilians rushed aid trucks into Gaza, the World Food Programme said, as hunger and desperation created chaotic scenes.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is a new US and Israeli-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 Israeli-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 had distributed 4.7 million meals this week, which the BBC has not been able to independently verify.The GHF said it had distributed 4.7 million meals this week, which the BBC has not been able to independently verify.
Israel does not allow independent access to Gaza, making it difficult to verify facts on the ground.
It comes as the US attempts to broker a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
Hamas responded to the US ceasefire proposal on Saturday 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.
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."
A military campaign was launched by Israel in Gaza in response to Hamas's cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.A military campaign was launched by Israel in Gaza in response to Hamas's cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
At least 54,418 people have been killed in Gaza during the war, according to the territory's health ministry.At least 54,418 people have been killed in Gaza during the war, according to the territory's health ministry.