GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories, June 16, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Gaza's civil 
defence agency said that 20 people waiting for aid in the south of the 
Palestinian territory were killed by Israeli troops on Monday.

Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that "20 martyrs and more than 
200 wounded by occupation gunfire... were transferred to the Red Cross field 
hospital in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Yunis, then to Nasser Hospital in Khan 
Yunis".

He added that the people had been waiting to reach an aid centre in Rafah 
"when the occupation forces opened fire" near the Al-Alam roundabout.

When asked by AFP, the Israeli military said it was checking the reports.

Israeli restrictions on media in Gaza and the difficulties of access on the 
ground mean AFP is unable to independently verify the casualty tolls provided 
by the civil defence agency.

Dozens of Palestinians have been killed while trying to reach Gaza 
Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution points since the US- and Israel-
backed organisation began operating in late May, according to the civil 
defence agency.

The rescue agency reported more than 20 killed on Saturday.

Israel is facing mounting international pressure over humanitarian conditions 
in Gaza which was described as "the hungriest place on Earth" by the United 
Nations at the end of May.

The UN humanitarian agency OCHA has said that "the entire population" was at 
risk of famine.

The United Nations and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with GHF 
over concerns it is designed to cater to Israeli military objectives.