Reports from health officials and eyewitnesses indicate that at least 26 Palestinians lost their lives, and a minimum of 175 sustained injuries, while en route to collect food supplies in the Gaza Strip.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that Israeli forces fired upon crowds situated approximately 1,000 yards from an aid distribution point managed by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. A Palestinian journalist informed the BBC that thousands of Palestinians had congregated near the aid location close to Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, when Israeli tanks approached and commenced firing on the assembled crowd.

The IDF stated that it is “currently unaware of injuries caused by IDF fire within the Humanitarian Aid distribution site,” adding that “the matter is still under review.”

The foundation issued a statement asserting that it successfully delivered 16 truckloads of aid “without incident” earlier on Sunday. It has refuted prior reports of disturbances and gunfire in the vicinity of its sites, which are located within Israeli military zones with restricted independent access.

In its statement, the foundation refuted what it called “false reporting about deaths, mass injuries and chaos.”

The organization’s aid distribution efforts have been marked by disorder, with numerous witnesses alleging that Israeli troops opened fire on crowds in proximity to the delivery locations. Prior to Sunday’s incident, local health officials reported that at least six individuals had been killed and over 50 wounded.

The foundation maintains that the private security personnel guarding its sites have not fired on the crowds. The Israeli military has acknowledged firing warning shots in previous instances.

According to witnesses, as thousands of individuals approached the distribution site in the hours before dawn, Israeli forces instructed them to disperse and return at a later time. The witnesses stated that when the crowds reached the Flag Roundabout, roughly 1,000 yards away, at approximately 3 a.m., the military opened fire.

“There was fire from all directions, from naval warships, from tanks and drones,” said Amr Abu Teiba, who was present in the crowd.

He recounted observing at least 10 bodies bearing gunshot wounds, as well as numerous other injured individuals, including women. People resorted to using carts to transport the casualties to the field hospital.

Another witness, Ibrahim Abu Saoud, provided a virtually identical account. Abu Saoud stated that he witnessed numerous individuals with gunshot wounds, including a young man who he claimed had died at the scene.

Mohammed Abu Teaima reported witnessing Israeli forces opening fire and killing his cousin and another woman as they were making their way to the distribution site. He stated that his cousin was shot in the chest and died at the scene, while numerous others, including his brother-in-law, sustained injuries.

“They opened heavy fire directly towards us,” he stated.

Israel and the U.S., which also supports the foundation, claim that the new aid system is designed to prevent Hamas from seizing aid. Israel has not presented any evidence of systematic diversion, and the U.N. denies that it has occurred.

U.N. agencies and major aid organizations have declined to collaborate with the new system, arguing that it contravenes humanitarian principles by allowing Israel to control aid recipients and forcing individuals to relocate to distribution sites.

The U.N. system has struggled to deliver aid after Israel recently slightly eased its total blockade of the territory. The groups contend that Israel’s restrictions, the breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting are significantly impeding the delivery of aid to those in need.