IDF says troops fired ‘warning shots’ near Gaza City aid site, claims reported death tolls are inaccurate

After Hamas authorities reported that 67 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire while waiting to collect humanitarian aid near Gaza City earlier today, the IDF confirms troops fired warning shots but claims that the provided tolls are inaccurate.

In response to a query, the IDF says thousands of Palestinians were identified gathering in northern Gaza, and troops in the area “fired warning shots to remove an immediate threat posed to the troops.”

The IDF says it is “aware of the claims of casualties in the area,” but adds that “a preliminary examination shows that the reported number of casualties does not align with the existing information.”

The incident is under further investigation, the army says.

In its response, the IDF says that it “places utmost importance on the transfer of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and works to enable and facilitate the delivery of aid in coordination with the international community. It certainly does not intentionally act against humanitarian aid trucks.”

“The IDF operates in a complex environment against the Hamas terror organization, which seeks to create friction on the ground that endangers Gaza’s civilians and IDF forces and hinders the entry of aid,” the military adds.