At least 47 Palestinians have been injured – mostly by gunfire – when a crowd overwhelmed an aid hub in Gaza, according to a UN official.
Gaza’s Hamas-run government media office said that three people had been killed during the incident in Rafah, in the south of the enclave. It said that seven others remained missing.
On Tuesday, crowds of Palestinians gathered at a new aid distribution hub set up by a US and Israeli-backed foundation.
People broke through fences at the hub after it was opened by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which has been slated by Israel to take over aid operations.
Ajith Sunghay, head of the UN Human Rights Office for the Palestinian territories, said it appeared that Israeli army fire had caused most of the injuries.
The Associated Press reported hearing Israeli tank and gunfire and witnessing a military helicopter firing flares.
The GHF said its military contractors did not fire on the crowd but “fell back” before resuming operations.
Palestinians have become desperate for food after nearly three months of an Israeli blockade which has pushed Gaza to the brink of famine.
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres said last week Israel had only authorised for Gaza what amounts to a “teaspoon” of aid and more people will die unless there is “rapid, reliable, safe and sustained aid access”.
The UN and other humanitarian organisations have rejected the new aid system.
They have warned that it will not be able to meet the needs of Gaza’s 2.3 million people and allows Israel to use food as a weapon to control the population.
The GHF has established four hubs, two of which are said to be operational. They are guarded by private security contractors.
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