Israeli Tank Fire Kills 51, Wounds 200 Near Gaza Aid Site

Israeli tank shellfire killed at least 51 Palestinians and wounded around 200 others in Khan Younis, Gaza, as civilians gathered to receive aid from trucks, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry and eyewitnesses. The incident occurred near aid distribution sites amid ongoing Israeli military operations, with medics describing overwhelmed hospitals and critical shortages of medical supplies. The Israeli Defense Forces acknowledged firing in the area, stating the crowd was near a stalled aid truck and IDF troops, and expressed regret for harm to uninvolved individuals while reviewing the incident. Witnesses and humanitarian groups have condemned the attack, highlighting the dangers faced by Palestinians trying to access food amid the blockade and conflict. The United Nations and aid organizations have criticized Israel's control over aid distribution, with some accusing it of weaponizing food access. This deadly event adds to the mounting casualties in Gaza since the conflict escalated in October 2023 following Hamas's attack on Israel, which led to a large-scale Israeli military response.