Israeli tanks fire on Gaza crowd trying to get food aid, killing 51

200 hurt, with 20 in critical state; Israeli military says it is looking into incident

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CAIRO - Israeli tanks fired into a crowd trying to get aid from lorries in the Gaza Strip on June 17, killing at least 51 people, according to medics, in one of the bloodiest incidents yet in mounting violence as desperate residents struggle for food.

Video shared on social media showed around a dozen mangled bodies lying in a street in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

The Israeli military acknowledged firing in the area and said it was looking into the incident.

Eyewitnesses interviewed by Reuters said Israeli tanks fired at least two shells at a crowd of thousands, who had gathered on the main eastern road through Khan Younis in the hope of getting food from aid lorries that use the route.

"All of a sudden, they let us move forward and made everyone gather, and then shells started falling, tank shells," said Mr Alaa, an eyewitness interviewed by Reuters at Nasser Hospital, where wounded victims lay sprawled on the floor and in corridors due to the lack of space.

"No one is looking at these people with mercy. The people are dying, they are being torn apart, to get food for their children. Look at these people - all these people are torn to get flour to feed their children."