Israeli fire has killed at least 72 Palestinians across Gaza, the civil defence agency in the enclave has said, including 21 people who were waiting for aid near a distribution site.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said the death toll had risen to 72, "due to the ongoing Israeli bombardment on the Gaza Strip since dawn today - 21 of them were waiting for aid".
Thousands of people had gathered overnight in the hope of receiving aid at the US and Israeli-backed distribution site in central Gaza's Netzarim corridor when it opened in the morning, a witness said.
The man said: "They started shooting at us. The gunfire intensified from tanks, aircraft and quadcopter bombs."
He said the size of the crowd had made it impossible for people to escape the Israeli fire near Shuhada Junction, and dead and wounded were left lying on the ground within walking distance of the distribution point run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
"We couldn't help them or even escape ourselves," he said.
Mr Mughayyir said the casualties had been taken to the Al-Awda and Al-Aqsa hospitals, in north and central Gaza, respectively.
Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in recent weeks while trying to reach aid distribution points in Gaza, which is suffering from famine-like conditions, according to UN agencies operating in the territory.
Israeli restrictions on media in Gaza and difficulties in accessing some areas mean media is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency.
In early March, Israel imposed an aid blockade on the territory amid a deadlock in truce negotiations, only partially easing restrictions in late May.
After Israel loosened its blockade, the privately run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation 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 over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives.
Yesterday, Israeli tank shellfire killed at least 51 people as they awaited aid trucks in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry.
Medics said residents said Israeli tanks fired shells at crowds of desperate Palestinians awaiting aid trucks along the main eastern road in Khan Younis.
They said at least 51 people were killed and 200 wounded, with at least 20 of them in critical condition.
On Tuesday, local health officials said at least 23 people were killed by Israeli gunfire as they approached a GHF aid distribution site in Rafah in southern Gaza.
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 territory's health ministry has said.
