The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has released drone footage purportedly showing armed individuals in Gaza shooting at civilians on Sunday. This comes amid strong denials from Israel that its forces were responsible for the deaths of dozens of people collecting humanitarian aid.

The IDF stated that it is releasing further information to counter what it describes as false reports alleging that its soldiers fired on civilians at an aid distribution point.

According to an IDF statement, an initial investigation suggests that “the IDF did not fire at civilians” near or within the aid distribution site and that related reports are untrue. The IDF added it is working with the American Civil Organization (GHF) and other international aid organizations to facilitate aid distribution to Gazan residents, ensuring it doesn’t reach Hamas.

The statement also mentioned that everything is being done to prevent disruption of food distribution in Gaza.

Israel has refuted reports claiming that at least 26 Palestinians were killed and approximately 175 wounded while trying to obtain food, according to Hamas-run health ministry officials and witnesses.

Witnesses reported that Israeli forces fired on individuals roughly 1,000 yards from an aid site operated by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). A Palestinian journalist informed the BBC that thousands had gathered near the aid site outside Rafah when Israeli tanks allegedly approached and opened fire.

The GHF has previously denied reports of chaos and gunfire around its sites, which are located in Israeli military zones with limited independent access.

Israel has consistently asserted that Hamas regularly obstructs aid from reaching civilians and deliberately puts them at risk.

The IDF stated on Sunday that “Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization” that starves and endangers the population to maintain control over Gaza. It added that Hamas’ actions, including attempts to disrupt humanitarian aid, directly harm Gazan residents.

IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin accused Hamas of spreading false rumors and “fake news” to hinder Israel’s aid distribution efforts.

While in Rafah, Defrin urged people not to believe every rumor spread by Hamas, adding that “We will investigate each and every one of those incidents and each and every one of those allegations. We are a professional military.”

In a separate event overnight, the IDF fired warning shots toward individuals approaching them near an aid distribution site.

The IDF reported that “approximately one kilometer away from the humanitarian aid distribution site, and outside the operating hours of the humanitarian aid distribution site, IDF troops acted to prevent several suspects from approaching the troops. During the activity, warning shots were fired toward several suspects who advanced toward the troops. There is no connection between this incident and the false claims made against the IDF.”

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