At least 29 Palestinians have been killed while waiting for aid in two separate Israeli attacks, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
The first incident on Thursday saw eight people killed in an airstrike on an aid distribution centre in the Nuseirat camp, in the central Gaza Strip, they said.
Later, at least 21 people were killed and more than 150 wounded by Israeli gunfire at a crowd waiting for aid at a roundabout, the ministry said.
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The dead and injured from the second attack were taken to Gaza’s al Shifa hospital, the statement added.
Israel’s military denied the reports as “false” in a statement.
“As the IDF [Israeli Defence Forces] assesses the incident with the thoroughness that it deserves, we urge the media to do the same and only rely on credible information,” the statement said.
Most of Gaza‘s 2.3 million population has been displaced by the current conflict and deadly incidents have unfolded during aid distribution.
Al Shifa hospital on 8 November 2023. Pic: Reuters
The latest news comes two weeks after the Gaza health ministry said at least 112 people were killed during another aid delivery.
Israel blamed the deaths on crowds that surrounded the aid trucks, but its account of that incident was “not clear”, as several “different versions of events” were given, Sky’s Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall said at the time.
Civilians gathered to try to get food and medicine from aid truck deliveries. A video obtained by Al Jazeera showed a crowd appearing to flee and duck amid audible gunfire.
Following the incident, medical teams said they were unable to cope with the volume and severity of the injuries, with dozens of wounded taken to al Shifa hospital, just under 4km from the incident site.
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Analysis of the 29 February aid truck incident
Israel’s current military offensive in Gaza was launched in the wake of Hamas’s 7 October attack.
The number of Palestinians killed since then is more than 31,000, the health ministry previously said.
A quarter of the remaining Palestinians there face starvation, according to the United Nations.
Countries including the US and Jordan have airdropped supplies into Gaza amid Israel’s refusal to open more aid routes.
Aid deliveries were also hampered after major countries withdrew funding for UNRWA, the UN’s main Palestinian relief agency, over allegations some of its staff took part in the 7 October attack.
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On Friday, Australia said it will resume funding to the agency, after its foreign minister Penny Wong said they are satisfied the group is not a terror organisation.
“We have children and families that are starving and we have a capacity along with the international community to assist them,” Ms Wong said.
About £3m in paused funding would be released immediately, she added.
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Parachutes drop supplies into the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel on 8 March. Pic: AP
Efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have so far failed.
Late on Thursday, Hamas said it had presented a vision of a truce deal based on stopping what it called Israeli aggression in Gaza, providing relief and aid, the return of displaced Gazans and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas’s vision was based on “unrealistic demands”.
I don’t understand why people are so quick to blame Israel. Hamas is the one that is firing rockets into Israel. Israel has a right to defend itself.
Well, at least the people of Gaza have plenty of time to pray for a miracle. Because that’s all they’re going to get from the international community.
This is a heartbreaking situation. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. I hope that aid can be delivered soon and that the injured can receive the medical attention they need.
This is outrageous! How can this happen in the 21st century? The world needs to do more to help the people of Gaza. They deserve to live in peace and with dignity.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. The blockade of Gaza has been going on for years, and it has had a devastating impact on the people living there. The international community needs to put pressure on Israel to end the blockade and allow aid to flow into Gaza.
I hope that this tragedy will be a wake-up call to the world. We cannot continue to ignore the suffering of the people of Gaza. We must do more to help them.
I’m starting to think that the people of Gaza are actually just really bad at waiting in line. Maybe they should try taking a number or something.
This is so frustrating! Why can’t the world do more to help the people of Gaza? They are innocent victims of a conflict that they did not start.
Oh, the irony! The people of Gaza are waiting for aid, while Hamas is busy building tunnels to attack Israel. Priorities, people.
My heart goes out to the people of Gaza. They have suffered so much over the years. I hope that one day they will be able to live in peace and with dignity.