UPDATE 2 - Israeli army kills 35 Palestinians in strikes across Gaza, including people waiting for aid

UPDATES DEATH TOLL, CHANGES HEADER

By Ahmed Asmar and Betul Yilmaz

ANKARA / ISTANBUL (AA) - The Israeli army killed at least 35 more Palestinians in deadly attacks across the war-devastated Gaza Strip on Tuesday, including a strike against civilians waiting to get aid in the southern city of Rafah, the Health Ministry said.

A ministry statement said that an Israeli strike targeting civilians awaiting humanitarian aid at an Israeli-designated aid distribution site in Rafah left 27 Palestinians dead and more than 90 people injured.

It said the fatalities occurred in the Al-Alam area of Rafah, where displaced Palestinians had gathered to receive assistance, noting that the toll is preliminary, as many of the injured are in critical condition.

This marks the latest deadly Israeli attack targeting Palestinians who were trying to get aid through the Israeli-introduced aid mechanism that came into force on May 27.

The Israeli army confirmed the attack, claiming that it targeted “suspects advancing towards forces.”

Six more Palestinians were killed, including two children, when Israeli warplanes struck homes and tents for displaced civilians in the southern city of Khan Younis, the official news agency Wafa said, citing medics.

Two more people were killed and others injured in an Israeli strike on a group of civilians in Jabalia town in northern Gaza, Wafa said.

Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, Israel has pursued a devastating offensive in Gaza since October 2023, killing nearly 54,500 Palestinians, most of them women and children. Aid agencies have warned about the risk of famine among the enclave's more than 2 million.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war crimes against civilians in the enclave.