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A "mass casualty influx" of people, many with gunshot or shrapnel wounds,
was received at a Red Cross field hospital in southern Gaza, the
organisation said, following disputed reports about an incident near an
aid distribution centre in Rafah.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said 21 people were "declared dead upon arrival" while women and children were among 179
cases.

The organisation's statement came after the Hamas-run civil defence agency
in Gaza said at least 31 people were killed and many more wounded in the incident, which it blamed on "Israeli gunfire" targeting civilians.

But the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said findings from an initial inquiry showed its forces had not fired at people while they were near or within
the aid centre.

The IDF also released drone footage it said showed armed and masked men throwing stones and shooting at civilians while they were collecting aid
in the nearby city of Khan Younis. The BBC could not immediately verify
the footage.

Israel does not allow international news organisations, including the BBC,
into Gaza, making verifying what is happening in the territory difficult.

The group that runs the aid distribution centre, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), also denied the claims of injuries and casualties at its
site and said they had been spread by Hamas.

As of Sunday evening, the situation on the ground remained unclear.

In its statement, the ICRC said the "Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah
received a mass casualty influx of 179 cases, including women and
children" early in the morning on Sunday.

It said "the majority suffered gunshot or shrapnel wounds", and "twenty-
one patients were declared dead upon arrival". It is unclear if the number
of people killed reported by the ICRC is separate to the Hamas health ministry's reports.

"All patients said they had been trying to reach an aid distribution
site," the ICRC said.

The ICRC said it was the "highest number of weapon-wounded in a single
incident since the establishment of the field hospital over a year ago",
and that it "far surpassed" the capacity of the 60-bed facility.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c991j01lym3o

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