Israeli forces kill 36 Palestinians at US-backed Gaza aid sites

Israeli forces open fire on Palestinians gathered at aid distribution sites run by a US-backed group in southern and central Gaza, killing at least 35 people in Rafah and one more near the Netzarim Corridor, Al Jazeera reports.

The Palestinian news outlet WAFA said that the attack injured more than 115 people, and added that there was no immediate comment from Israel on the reported attack.

While some Palestinians expressed concern over its neutrality and biometric and other checks Israel said it would employ, Israeli officials said it allowed screening of recipients to exclude anyone found to be connected with Hamas.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 54,381 Palestinians and wounded 124,054, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The Gaza Government Media Office updated its death toll to more than 61,700, saying thousands of people missing under the rubble are presumed dead. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, and more than 200 were taken captive.

By Khagan Isayev