ISRAELI FIRE HITS GAZA AID SITE, 15 PALестINIAN KILLED

Jerusalem: At least 15 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire as they gathered near an aid distribution centre in central Gaza, hospitals say.

Officials at al-Aqsa and al-Awda hospitals confirmed that a total of 15 people lost their lives after troops opened fire on the area. The incident occurred while people were waiting for a convoy of aid lorries near a site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which is backed by Israel and the US.

The Israeli military claimed that troops fired warning shots at a group they believed posed a potential threat, but eyewitnesses report that locals were simply gathering to receive food parcels. The GHF site in question was closed until Sunday, citing security concerns.

"It's only adding to the confusion," said an aid worker in Gaza, who wished to remain anonymous. "Every day there are incidents where people get shot by Israeli troops or local gunmen. This is making it even harder for us to deliver aid."

The need for access to aid and internet has become crucial for Gazans, as the current lack of both severely undermines their already fragile situation. Large numbers of Palestinians have been gathering near aid distribution sites, hoping to be ready when food parcels arrive.

In recent days, the Israel military has repeatedly come under fire for its handling of aid deliveries in Gaza. According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, at least 29 people have died while seeking aid over the past two days, bringing the total number of deaths to 274 since GHF began operations two weeks ago.

The Israeli military has assured that it is investigating all reported incidents, but critics say there must be a stronger commitment to protecting civilians in Gaza.