At least 40 Palestinians killed in single day as Gaza fighting continues
At least 19 of those killed were trying to reach an aid distribution site in the central Gazan city of Nuseirat, according to an official at a local hospital.
Marwan Abu Naser, of the Al-Awda Hospital, said a further 146 people were injured by gunfire as crowds tried to reach the centre.
Israel's military said that a gathering overnight was identified adjacent to forces operating in Gaza's central Netzarim Corridor, and it was reviewing reports of casualties.
Aid distribution centres operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) have been the site of frequent violence in recent weeks.
Responding to a Reuters request for comment, the GHF said in an e-mail that there has been no incident near their aid site, which it added was located several kilometres south of the Netzarim Corridor.
Israel has been channelling much of the aid it lets into Gaza through the GHF, which operates a handful of distribution sites in areas guarded by Israeli forces.
The United Nations rejects the GHF delivery system as inadequate, dangerous, and a violation of humanitarian impartiality rules. Israel says it is needed to prevent the Hamas militants it is fighting from diverting aid deliveries.
The Palestinian Islamist group denies doing so.
Separately, 10 other people were killed by an Israeli air strike on a house in the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City.
A further 11 were killed by Israeli gunfire in the southern city of Khan Younis, medics said, raising the day's toll to at least 40.
The outbreak of war between Israel and Iran has drawn global attention away from the ongoing situation in Gaza.
The war erupted 20 months ago after Hamas-led militants raided Israel and took 251 hostages and killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, on October 7, 2023, Israel's single deadliest day.
Israel's military campaign since then has killed nearly 56,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to health authorities in Gaza, and flattened much of the densely populated strip.
Most of the population is displaced, and widespread malnutrition is a significant concern.
Amid hopes of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, some Palestinians expressed frustration a similar breakthrough had not occurred in Gaza.
"Enough! The whole universe has let us down. (Iran-backed Lebanese group) Hezbollah reached a deal without Gaza, and now Iran has done the same," said Adel Farouk, 62, from Gaza City.
"We hope Gaza is next," he told Reuters via a chat app.
Israel's military said on Tuesday its focus was now returning to Gaza, returning the hostages and dismantling Hamas.
Hamas has said it is willing to free remaining hostages in Gaza under any deal to end the war, while Israel says it can only end if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas refuses to lay down its arms.
Any sign of a truce between the two sides appeared unlikely, with the Israeli military dropping leaflets over several areas in north Gaza ordering residents to leave their homes and head towards the south.
The leaflets appeared to herald renewed Israeli military strikes against Hamas.
"Coming back to combat areas represents a risk to your lives," the army statement said.
Reuters
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