An incident near an aid center in Gaza led to mass casualties, including 21 deaths, reported by the Red Cross. Conflicting accounts from Hamas and Israel mark an unclear situation.

CAIRO - A "mass casualty influx" involving numerous individuals suffering from gunshot or shrapnel wounds was reported at a Red Cross field hospital in southern Gaza. The facility received this influx following contradictory accounts of an incident near an aid distribution center in Rafah.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed that 21 individuals were "declared dead upon arrival," including women and children among the 179 cases assisted.

This statement follows claims by the Hamas-run civil defense agency in Gaza, which stated at least 31 fatalities and numerous injuries attributed to "Israeli gunfire" directed at civilians.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) contested these claims, asserting that initial investigation findings showed no firing at civilians near or within the aid center.

The IDF released drone footage purportedly depicting armed, masked individuals throwing stones and firing at civilians collecting assistance in Khan Younis. The BBC has not independently verified this footage as entry of international news organizations, including the BBC, into Gaza is restricted.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which operates the aid distribution site, also denied reports of casualties and injuries at its location, attributing the information spread to Hamas.

As of Sunday evening, the situation remains unclear. According to the ICRC statement, the "Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah received a mass casualty influx of 179 cases, including women and children" early Sunday. The "majority suffered gunshot or shrapnel wounds," and "twenty-one patients were declared dead upon arrival." It is uncertain if these numbers are separate from those reported by Hamas health ministry.

Patients reported attempting to reach an aid distribution site, according to ICRC. The incident represents the "highest number of weapon-wounded in a single incident since the establishment of the field hospital over a year ago," overwhelming the 60-bed facility's capacity.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) also responded to the "mass casualty" event, revealing the blood bank at Nasser hospital was near depletion, compelling medical staff to donate blood themselves.

Claire Manera, MSF's emergency coordinator, criticized the aid delivery system as "dehumanizing, dangerous and severely ineffective."

In its statement, the IDF referred to "false reports" circulating, alleging IDF actions against Gazan residents near the aid distribution site, adding that initial findings indicated no IDF fire at civilians.

MSF reported patients recounting being shot while seeking aid. MSF's Nour Alsaqa confirmed staff learned about a colleague's brother being killed while trying to collect aid.

Another event reportedly occurred near a separate aid center in the Netzarim Corridor, Central Gaza, with the Palestinian Red Crescent citing 14 injuries.

The BBC received reports from Nasser hospital doctors indicating 200 arrival of bullet or shrapnel injuries. Local journalists and activists shared footage of victims being transported on donkey carts to the Red Cross hospital in the al-Mawasi area.

Gaza's health ministry has reported over 200 cases at hospitals, including 31 fatalities. Seventy-nine individuals were taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, British charity Medical Aid for Palestinians staff reported, noting the injured were primarily struck by live gunfire.

British surgeon Victoria Rose at Nasser Hospital confirmed the critical situation, stating "All the bays are full and they're all gunshot wounds ."

The GHF, facilitating aid distribution, denied any incidents at its centers. A Rafah-based IDF soldier informed the BBC of Israeli fire near the crowd, assuring no direct shots were made.

Reports from Mohammed Ghareeb, a journalist in Rafah, alleged Israeli tanks fired on crowds near the aid center, trapping injured individuals for hours. Emergency crews were reportedly unable to approach the area for evacuation.

Mahmud Bassal from Gaza’s Civil Defence detailed mass injuries resulting from gunfire by Israeli vehicles, highlighting the dire humanitarian scenario in Rafah amid continuing military operations.

On Saturday, masses of civilians scrambled for food from aid trucks amidst chaos and hunger, the World Food Programme reported, underscoring the situation's urgency.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, part of a US and Israeli-backed initiative accused Hamas of aid diversion, claims weekly distribution of 4.7 million meals, an assertion the BBC couldn’t verify.

Israeli military actions target Gaza following a Hamas cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages.

The ongoing conflict has accounted for over 54,418 fatalities within Gaza, as reported by the territorial health ministry. - BBC