At least 31 dead after Israeli troops fired on Gaza crowd, witnesses say

At least 31 people have been killed in Gaza after Israeli forces fired on crowds near an aid distribution center, according to witnesses and sources.

The Associated Press reported the event on Sunday morning, and said those present had seen Israeli forces fire at crowds 1,000 yards from the Rafah aid site which it said is run by an Israeli-backed organization.

This follows unidentified officials telling the outlet that at least 21 had been killed and 175 wounded after shots were fired at a field hospital run by the Red Cross, without specifying who fired the shots.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was unable to be reached for immediate comment via phone. Newsweek has reached out to the IDF via email.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Miriam Haskel-Harpaz told Sky News that the IDF was “reviewing” the incident but currently had “no information.”

The Israeli army, in a statement quoted by AP, said: “currently unaware of injuries caused by (Israeli military) fire within the Humanitarian Aid distribution site. The matter is still under review.”

The Gaza Health Ministry posted to Telegram: “The toll of the occupation’s massacre of citizens gathered in the area designated for aid distribution, ‘Al-Alam District,’ in Rafah Governorate, at dawn today. More than 200 cases have arrived at hospitals so far, including 31 martyrs and dozens with serious injuries.”

This is a developing story with updates to follow.

This article contains reporting from The Associated Press.