The Hamas-run Gaza Civil Defense and the director general of Nasser hospital in Khan Younis said 24 people were killed and 37 wounded "as Israeli forces opened fire on crowds of civilians" waiting for aid in Rafah, the BBC reported.

"They all arrived at the hospital, most with gunshot wounds. When Israeli occupation forces opened fire with tanks and drones on thousands of civilians who had gathered since dawn near the Al-Alam roundabout in the Al-Mawasi area, northwest of Rafah," said Hamas Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Bassal.

While the Israeli army said its troops fired after identifying "suspects" about 0.5 km (0.3 miles) from an aid distribution site near Rafah, an incident in which several Palestinians reported casualties. The IDF said it initially fired "warning fire," adding that "after the suspects failed to

withdrew, further shots were fired near some suspicious individuals advancing towards the troops."

The Israel Defense Forces also confirmed that it was aware of the reports of casualties and that "the details of the incident are being investigated."

(Online Union)

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