At least 51 people were killed, and over 200 were wounded when Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd of civilians gathered for food aid in southern Gaza.
The attack, which occurred near a distribution site for flour, has been described as a "massacre" by survivors and witnesses.
Saeed Abu Liba, 38, a survivor of the attack, told Al Jazeera: “Tens of thousands of hungry civilians gathered for the aid. Two Israeli shells were dropped in the middle of the crowd. Dozens of civilians, including children, were killed, and no one could help or save lives.”
Another witness, Yousef Nofal, recalled the scene: "It was a massacre," he said, describing how many people were lying motionless and bleeding on the ground. Israeli soldiers reportedly continued firing as people tried to flee the area.
Witnesses also reported hearing loud explosions and gunfire. Mohammed Abu Qeshfa, another survivor, said he survived by a miracle after hearing tank shelling followed by heavy gunfire.
Read: Israeli strikes kill 41 in Gaza, including five near aid sites
Gaza Civil Defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal confirmed the attack, saying more than 200 people were wounded. He added that Israeli drones first targeted the crowd, followed by tank shelling that resulted in mass casualties.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, many of the injured are in critical condition and have been rushed to Nasser Medical Complex.
The emergency services at the hospital are overwhelmed, with intensive care units and operating rooms crowded with casualties.
"The emergency rooms, intensive care units, and operating theatres at Nasser Hospital are severely overcrowded due to the large number of casualties," the ministry said in a statement.
Medical teams are struggling with limited supplies of essential medications and equipment, further complicating the situation. Medics on the ground fear the death toll may rise, as many of the injured are in critical condition.
Meanwhile, Israel and Iran continued their exchanges of attacks for the fifth consecutive day on Tuesday. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform, urging Iranians to evacuate Tehran. He blamed the country's refusal to sign a deal to limit its nuclear weapons development, stating it was a "shame" and a "waste of human life."
Trump reiterated his stance on Iran's nuclear ambitions, saying, "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," adding that his previous warnings had been ignored. He also announced plans to convene the National Security Council, according to Fox News.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have escalated to their most intense level recently. On June 13, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, targeting key Iranian military leaders, nuclear facilities, and ballistic missile sites.
Read more: Iran calls on Trump to push for ceasefire as Israel claims 'path to victory'
The strikes killed dozens, including top military commanders and prominent nuclear scientists, according to Reuters.
Since the Israeli attack, both countries have exchanged retaliatory blows. Iran reports over 220 deaths, mostly civilians, while Israel claims 24 of its civilians have been killed.
The ongoing tensions between Israel, the US, and Iran are driven by Tehran’s nuclear programme. While Israel and Western nations press Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons development, Iran insists its nuclear pursuits are for peaceful purposes, consistent with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
This discrepancy fuels regional instability, particularly as Israel is believed to possess nuclear weapons despite not being a signatory to the NPT.
Critics draw parallels to the Iraq War, where Saddam Hussein’s alleged weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) were used to justify military intervention, raising concerns about the Western narrative on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Israel's war on Gaza
The death toll from Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza has surpassed 55,000, with over 128,000 Palestinians injured since October 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The Israeli military resumed its offensive in March, resulting in 5,139 deaths and nearly 17,000 injuries since then. This escalation shattered a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal that had briefly held in January.
Read more: Israeli kills 27 Palestinians in Gaza as toll crosses 55,200 deaths
International legal bodies have taken action against Israel’s actions, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes.
Furthermore, Israel faces charges of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its campaign in Gaza.
Despite mounting international condemnation, Israel's military actions in Gaza continue unabated, with the humanitarian crisis deepening each day.
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