Dozens of Palestinians killed, nearly 200 wounded while on their way to collect aid in Gaza

At least Palestinians were killed and at least were wounded as they made their way to receive food in the Gaza Strip according to physical condition agents and observers Onlookers reported Israeli forces fired on crowds around yards away from an aid site run by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation A Palestinian journalist narrated the BBC that thousands of Palestinians had gathered near the aid site near Gaza's southern city of Rafah when Israeli tanks approached and opened fire on the crowd The Israeli Defense Forces reported it is presently unaware of injuries caused by IDF fire within the Humanitarian Aid distribution site adding that the matter is still under review The foundation disclosed in a message that it delivered truckloads of aid without happening early on Sunday It has denied previous accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites which are in Israeli military zones where independent access is limited ISRAEL HOSTAGE DEAL IN DOUBT AS HAMAS ADDS DEMANDS US ENVOY CALLS TERMS 'UNACCEPTABLE'In its report the foundation dismissed what it referred to as false reporting about deaths mass injuries and chaos The organization's distribution of aid has been marred by chaos with multiple spectators having explained Israeli troops fired on crowds near the delivery sites Before Sunday at least six people had been killed and more than wounded according to local strength administrators The foundation says the private protection contractors guarding its sites have not fired on the crowds The Israeli military has announced it fired warning shots in previous incidents As thousands of people headed toward the distribution site hours before dawn Israeli forces ordered them to disperse and return later observers declared When the crowds reached the Flag Roundabout around yards away at around a m the military opened fire the spectators noted There was fire from all directions from naval warships from tanks and drones Amr Abu Teiba who was in the crowd mentioned He explained he observed at least bodies with gunshot wounds and several other wounded people including women People used carts to carry the casualties to the field hospital Another witness Ibrahim Abu Saoud gave a nearly identical account Abu Saoud announced he saw numerous people with gunshot wounds including a young man who he declared had died at the scene Mohammed Abu Teaima noted he saw Israeli forces open fire and kill his cousin and another woman as they were on their way to the distribution site He stated his cousin was shot in his chest and died at the scene while a large number of others were wounded including his brother-in-law They opened heavy fire directly towards us he disclosed HUCKABEE SLAMS FRENCH-BACKED PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD PUSH AT UN SAYS US-ISRAEL ARE 'INSEPARABLY' LINKEDIsrael and the U S which also backs the foundation say the new aid system seeks to prevent Hamas from taking away aid Israel has not provided any evidence of systematic diversion and the U N denies it has happened U N agencies and major aid groups have refused to work with the new system arguing that it violates humanitarian principles since it allows Israel to control who receives aid and forces people to relocate to distribution sites The U N system has struggled to bring in aid after Israel in recent weeks slightly eased its total blockade of the territory The groups say Israel's restrictions the breakdown of law and order and widespread looting make it extremely formidable to deliver aid to Palestinians in Gaza The Associated Press contributed to this document