At least 19 people have been reported killed and 23 injured as Israeli forces allegedly opened fire on Gaza residents who were waiting for humanitarian aid at the Kuwait roundabout in Gaza City on Saturday. The incident took place as crowds gathered at the designated distribution point, seeking much-needed supplies amidst the ongoing conflict.

The Government Media Office in Gaza stated that the Israeli occupation army and tanks fired machine guns at the individuals who were desperately waiting for bags of flour and aid in a remote area that posed no threat to the occupation. The casualties were taken to the Al-Ahli Baptist hospital, according to Gazan authorities and local journalist Khader Al-Za'anoun, who was on the ground reporting for CNN.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have denied claims that they attacked dozens of Gazans at the aid convoy. The IDF stated that a review of the incident is underway and the reports are incorrect. They further mentioned that earlier in the day, they facilitated an aid convoy to deliver food to people in Northern Gaza. However, they claimed that upon its approach to the distribution point, the convoy was intercepted and looted by hundreds of Gazans north of the humanitarian corridor.

The spokesperson for the Gaza Civil Defense Directorate, Captain Mahmoud Basal, firmly asserted that the casualties were a direct result of the Israeli forces targeting residents who were simply seeking food to feed their families and children. In response, the IDF claimed that there was no aerial strike or firing by their forces at the aid convoy.

Videos captured at the scene show the aftermath of the incident, with several relatives of the victims expressing their grief and frustration. One man, Ahmad Al-Ghoul, spoke out about his cousin's tragic death, questioning the lack of international protection for those seeking to provide for their loved ones.

This incident adds to a string of deadly attacks by Israeli soldiers on crowds of civilians awaiting aid in recent weeks. According to the Gaza-based Government Media Office, at least 400 people have been killed in similar incidents during the ongoing conflict. However, due to limited international media access to the region, these figures cannot be independently verified.

It is worth noting that last week, the Palestinian Internal Security Forces in Gaza City announced a ban on gatherings at the Kuwait roundabout, in an effort to protect lives from what they referred to as "frequent massacres" carried out by Israeli forces. The reason behind distributing aid in this specific area on Saturday remains unclear.

As investigations into the incident continue, the tragic loss of life has once again highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the urgent need for international intervention to protect the lives of civilians caught in the crossfire of the conflict.