27 Palestinians Killed by Israeli Fire Near Gaza Aid Site; UN Demands Probe

Israeli Military Says a Group Left Designated Access Routes and Approached Its Positions

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CAIRO/JERUSALEM - At least 27 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded by Israeli fire near a food distribution site in the southern Gaza Strip on June 3, the local health authorities said, in the latest bout of chaos and bloodshed to plague the aid operation.

The Israeli military said its forces opened fire on a group of people who had left designated access routes near the distribution center in Rafah and approached their positions.

It added that it was still investigating what happened.

The deaths came hours after Israel said three of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in the northern Gaza Strip, as its forces pushed ahead with a months-long offensive against Hamas militants that has laid waste to much of the enclave.

Reuters could not independently verify the reports in northern and southern Gaza.

A spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross said its field hospital in Rafah received 184 casualties, adding that 19 of those were declared dead upon arrival, and eight died of their wounds shortly after.

Video shows injured people, including at least one woman, being rushed to a medical center on carts drawn by donkeys, before being transferred onto stretchers or into ambulances.