At least 60 Palestinians, including 31 humanitarian aid seekers, were killed by Israeli forces on Friday, reported by the Palestinian civil defense agency.
Spokesman Mahmud Bassal stated that five people were shot while waiting for food in the south, and 26 more were killed near the Netzarim corridor, an Israeli-controlled area piercing through central Gaza.
A large number of people are gathering daily in central Gaza amid upcoming famine conditions after more than 20 months of war.
According to Israeli forces, their troops first fired warning shots at “suspects” approaching them. As they got closer, an aircraft carried out attacks, eliminating suspects and neutralizing the “threat.”
Similar deadly incidents have been happening since late May, after Israel lifted the aid ban from Gaza, providing US-supported humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
The operation has been discouraged and criticized severely as UN agencies and other humanitarian aid organizations refused to work along as they were concerned Israel has been carrying out its military objectives in the name of such aid.
Additionally, 14 more Palestinians have been killed in two separate attacks at Deir al-Balah, and 13 more in Gaza City under 3 Israeli air strikes. Two additional deaths by gunfire were reported in the southern part of the territory, reported by Bassal.
Due to media access restrictions and security concerns, AFP has not independently confirmed the reported casualty numbers.
In a separate development, the Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for attacking an Israeli military site in Khan Yunis, causing casualties.
The Israeli military has yet to respond to this claim. Much of Khan Yunis remains under evacuation orders issued by Israeli forces as military operations continue.