Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
GAZA, June 1 (Xinhua) — At least 31 Palestinians were killed Sunday in Israeli shelling near a humanitarian aid center in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources said.
At least 31 people were killed and dozens of others were seriously wounded this morning when Israeli troops opened fire near a humanitarian aid distribution point in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip where residents had gathered to receive aid, the Gaza Health Authority said in a statement.
Most of the wounds were to the upper body and the death toll could rise due to the severity of the injuries, said Mohammed Abu Afash, director of the Gaza Medical Aid Organization, adding that ambulances were having difficulty reaching the scene due to ongoing Israeli military action.
Eyewitnesses told Xinhua that thousands of people arrived at the aid center in the early morning hours when gunfire and explosions began.
Calling the incident part of a “series of repeated attacks” by Israel on aid distribution points, the Hamas-controlled Gaza government’s press office said in a press statement that the work in the area was carried out in coordination with a US-Israeli company and under the supervision of the Israeli military.
Also on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that it was not aware of any casualties in the attack on the aid distribution site and that the matter was still under review.
Israeli media, citing military sources, claim that the target of Israeli military operations in the area were “terrorist elements.”
Israel closed border crossings and reduced humanitarian aid into Gaza on March 2. Limited access has been allowed since May 22. –0–