More than 30,000 now killed in Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Palestinian officials say

Health authorities in Gaza said on Thursday Israeli fire on people waiting for aid near Gaza City had killed more than 70 and wounded 280, with one hospital saying it had received 10 bodies and dozens of injured patients.

Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra said many of the people were killed in the incident as they lined up for humanitarian assistance at al-Nabusi roundabout west of Gaza City in the northern part of the enclave.

Medical teams were unable to cope with the volume and severity of injuries from dozens of wounded people who arrived at al-Shifa hospital, Qidra said.

The head of Kamal Adwan hospital in Gaza City, Hussam Abu Safieyah, said it had received 10 dead bodies and dozens of wounded patients from the incident west of the city.

“We don’t know how many there are in other hospitals,” Safieyah told Reuters by phone.

Hamas warned in a statement that the incident could lead to the failure of talks aimed at a deal on a truce and hostage release.

Referring to the incident, an Israeli military spokesperson said: “There is no knowledge of Israeli shelling in the area.”

At least 30,035 Palestinians have been killed and 70,457 wounded in Israel’s military offensive since Oct. 7, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

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The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led fighters entered Israel, killing around 1,200 people including several Canadians, while seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Some 130 people remain unaccounted for.

Videos posted on social media showed trucks carrying many dead bodies. Reuters verified the location of one video to al-Nabulsi roundabout that showed several men who were motionless, as well as several wounded people.