At least 47 Palestinians were killed and more than 200 injured on Tuesday morning as Israeli forces opened fire near an aid distribution point in Khan Younis, Gaza’s Civil Defense confirmed. Eyewitnesses said Israeli drones first fired at civilians, followed by multiple tank shells hitting the densely packed area.

The casualties were gathering to receive humanitarian assistance from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an initiative backed by the United States and Israel.

Health Ministry Reports 51 Dead; GHF Denies Fault

While Gaza’s Civil Defense reported 47 deaths, the enclave’s Health Ministry later raised the toll to 51. Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for the emergency services, described the attack as “a massacre” and emphasized that the victims were civilians awaiting essential food supplies.

The GHF issued a statement Monday evening asserting that its four aid sites—guarded by Israeli forces—had delivered over three million meals without incident. The organization denied responsibility for the violence.

UN Condemns Militarized Aid Distribution

The United Nations has sharply criticized the GHF model, calling it “dangerous, unsuitable, and in violation of humanitarian neutrality.” UN officials say the presence of armed forces at aid sites has repeatedly turned deliveries into deadly confrontations.

This latest tragedy follows a series of similar incidents at GHF distribution points, which have seen dozens of civilians killed since operations began in late May.

No Comment Yet from Israeli Military

The Israeli army has not yet commented on the incident. In previous cases of civilian casualties near aid points, the IDF acknowledged opening fire but claimed it was responding to threats or blamed violence on local fighters. Rights groups have called for independent investigations into all such events.