At least 48 Palestinians killed waiting for food in Gaza as death toll from hunger rises
Shifa Hospital in Gaza City said the dead and wounded were among crowds massed at the Zikim Crossing, the main entry point for humanitarian aid to northern Gaza.
It was not immediately clear who opened fire and there was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which controls the crossing.
Another seven Palestinians, including a child, died of malnutrition-related causes, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Israel has come under mounting international pressure in recent days over its ongoing military offensive and blockade.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, the leading world authority on hunger crises, has stopped short of declaring famine in Gaza but said on Tuesday that the situation has dramatically worsened and warned of "widespread death" without immediate action.
The latest violence around aid distribution came as the US Mideast envoy was heading to Israel for talks.
US envoy Steve Witkoff, who has led the Trump administration's efforts to wind down the nearly 22-month war and release hostages taken in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack that sparked the conflict, will arrive in Israel on Thursday for talks on the situation in Gaza.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the latest strikes.
It says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas, because the group's militants operate in densely populated areas.
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