### Deadly Incidents at Gaza Aid Sites Highlight Rising Tensions

At least 27 Palestinians have lost their lives under Israeli fire as they tried to collect aid near a distribution site in Gaza, according to local officials. Tanks, quadcopter drones, and helicopters opened fire on civilians near the al-Alam roundabout, about 1km from the aid distribution center, a spokesperson for Gaza's Hamas-run Civil Defence agency confirmed.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) justified the use of force, stating that their troops fired at suspects who were moving towards them, deviating from the designated access routes. This incident follows a previous similar case on Sunday, where the Hamas-run health ministry reported 31 dead and nearly 200 injured, despite Israel's denial of firing shots.

Following the deadly encounter, Nasser Hospital's director in Khan Younis, Atef Al-Hout, reported receiving 24 dead and 37 wounded individuals with gunshot injuries, emphasizing that Israeli forces had fired on crowds of civilians waiting for aid in western Rafah. A foreign medic described the scene as "total carnage," overwhelmed with casualties since early morning hours.

Eyewitness accounts provide further chilling details. Nadeem Zarab, a local journalist, shared a harrowing video on social media, revealing how he and his uncle were caught in the crossfire as they approached the aid center. Another witness, preferring anonymity, echoed similar experiences of sudden and intense gunfire as they sought aid.

In response, the IDF stated that they were not hindering Gazan civilians' access to humanitarian aid sites and clarified that warning shots were fired approximately half a kilometre away from the aid distribution center towards suspects who posed a threat. Due to restrictions, international news agencies, including the BBC, struggle to verify events within Gaza.

Aid distribution in Gaza has recently been managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an Israel- and US-backed organization. Their system, controversial for its perceived "weaponizing" of aid, has civilians walking long distances to distribution centers, often under the threat of violence.

The UN and other international bodies have heavily criticized the GHF system. UN's human rights chief, Volker Türk, remarked on the dire situation, reflecting on the grim choices faced by Palestinians—risking their lives for meagre food supplies or potentially starving.

On Sunday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported a significant influx of casualties in Rafah, with 21 declared dead upon arrival. The IDF maintains that initial inquiries showed no shots were fired at people near or within the aid center, while the GHF denied any injuries or casualties at their site, attributing such claims to Hamas.

The incidents highlight the severe humanitarian crisis and escalating tensions in the region, drawing widespread international concern.