In a tragic turn of events, a deadly incident occurred late Thursday in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of at least 20 people and leaving over 150 wounded. Palestinian officials and witnesses claim that an Israeli attack targeting a crowd of people awaiting supplies from an aid convoy was responsible for the casualties. However, Israel's military vehemently denies any involvement in the killings.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Palestinian gunmen fired upon the crowd as they gathered near the aid convoy. The IDF further stated that some civilians were tragically run over by the aid trucks. A preliminary review conducted by the IDF overnight concluded that their personnel did not open fire on the aid convoy.

Eyewitness testimonies provided to The Washington Post offer conflicting accounts. Some witnesses allege that they saw an Israeli helicopter and drones randomly firing on the Palestinians who had gathered to receive aid. They also reported the presence of armed Palestinian police officers at some distance, with one witness claiming they fired into the air to control the crowds.

This incident comes at a time when Gaza is facing a dire hunger crisis, widely attributed to Israel's alleged obstruction of aid. The scarcity of food, medicine, and other necessities has led to desperate scrambles during aid convoys, resulting in scenes of chaos and discord. International governments have resorted to delivering limited supplies by air and sea due to insufficient aid entering the region via land crossings.

Israel has consistently denied claims of limiting aid to Gaza, but UN and relief officials warn that without a ceasefire, the struggle to provide essential supplies will persist, potentially leading to mass starvation among Gaza's population.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that a meeting was held on Friday to assess a new ceasefire proposal from Hamas, the militant group governing Gaza. While the proposal was considered "unreasonable," Israel expressed willingness to send a delegation to Qatar, the mediator of ceasefire talks, to discuss their position.

The incident in question took place at the Kuwaiti Roundabout, where civilians had gathered to intercept aid deliveries. The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed that at least 20 people were killed and scores injured as a result of an alleged Israeli attack. Witnesses recounted the chaos of the aid delivery process, with reports of Israeli helicopters and drones firing intermittently and trucks running over people as they desperately attempted to grab supplies.

It is important to note that access to independent verification of the events is limited, as both Israel and Egypt have prohibited journalists from freely entering Gaza. The IDF released edited footage purporting to show Palestinians opening fire among civilians, but its authenticity and location remain unverified.

The incident highlights the deteriorating situation in Gaza, exacerbated by a decrease in police presence during aid distribution due to attacks on the force. With the ongoing negotiations and the United States reviewing a new hostage release offer from Hamas, efforts are being made to reach a comprehensive agreement to end the five-month-long conflict.

As the investigations into the incident continue, the focus remains on addressing the pressing humanitarian crisis and finding a viable resolution to bring peace to the region.