Gaza rescuers say “Israeli” fire kills 72, including 21 waiting for aid

Gaza's civil defence agency said “Israeli” forces killed at least 72 people on Thursday, including 21 who had gathered near aid distribution sites as famine looms after more than 20 months of war.

Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said that six people were killed while waiting for aid in the southern Gaza Strip and 15 others in a central area known as the Netzarim corridor, where thousands of Palestinians have gathered daily in the hope of receiving food rations.

The “Israeli” army told AFP that its troops in Netzarim corridor – a strip of land militarised by “Israel” that bisects the Palestinian territory – had fired "warning shots" at "suspects" approaching them, but that it was "not aware of any injured individuals".

The army did not comment on the incident reported in the south.

In northern Gaza, Bassal said that nine separate “Israeli” strikes killed another 51 people, updating earlier tolls provided by his agency.

At least 300 Palestinians have been killed in recent weeks while trying to reach aid distribution points in Gaza, which is suffering from famine-like conditions, the strip’s health ministry has said.

In early March, “Israel” imposed an aid blockade on Gaza amid a deadlock in truce negotiations, only partially easing restrictions in late May.

After “Israel” loosened its blockade, the privately run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began distributing aid, but its operations have been marred by chaotic scenes.

UN agencies and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the foundation – which has the support of “Israel” and its ally the United States – over concerns it was designed to cater to “Israeli” military objectives.