As many as 20 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire as they waited for aid distribution in Rafah, southern Gaza, reports said on Tuesday morning.
The reports confirmed that Gaza hospitals received several bodies along with scores more injured after being hit by direct gunfire while lining up to receive aid at a newly opened distribution centre in Rafah, backed by the US and Israeli governments.
Earlier reports confirmed the killing of 15 people, which has now risen to 20. Several more are said to be in critical condition.
The claims come after two days of similar reports from Rafah, with 31 people reported killed early on Sunday and three more on Monday, according to eyewitnesses and aid groups.
Although the Israeli side, along with the US, backed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which was designated to distribute aid after a consensus between Tel Aviv and Washington, denied killing people near the aid distribution site.
Hours later, Israeli military officials said they had fired warning shots at individuals about a kilometre away early on Sunday and again on Monday, contradicting the GHF's narrative.
According to the Red Cross, 179 people wounded by gunfire and shrapnel were brought to a field hospital it operates in Rafah on Sunday morning, and 50 more on Monday morning.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has held talks on the unfolding situation in Gaza and also reflected on possible ceasefire discussions between Hamas and the United States.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, held talks on the situation in Gaza and “stabilisation in Syria,” the State Department said.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement on Monday: "I am appalled by the reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking aid in Gaza yesterday.
"I call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for the perpetrators to be held accountable."
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