Gaza: At least 27 Palestinians were killed early Tuesday when Israeli forces opened fire near a humanitarian aid distribution point in Rafah, southern Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials and witnesses.

The incident marks the third such deadly shooting in as many days. The Israeli army claimed it had fired warning shots and then fired “near a few individual suspects” who strayed from the designated aid route.

The shootings occurred around the Flag Roundabout, nearly a kilometre from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's (GHF) secure aid hub. Gaza’s Health Ministry said 27 people were confirmed dead, with Red Cross spokesperson Hisham Mhanna confirming that 184 people were brought to a field hospital, 19 of them dead on arrival and eight later succumbing to their injuries. Three children and two women were among the dead, with most injuries being gunshot wounds.

Israeli army spokesperson Effie Defrin stated that casualty numbers were exaggerated and the army is investigating the incident. The military maintains it does not block aid but seeks to control access to prevent Hamas exploitation.

Witnesses described the gunfire as “indiscriminate.” Neima al-Aaraj, a woman from Khan Younis, said she would not return to the site after witnessing the violence. “Either way we will die,” she said. Another witness, Rasha al-Nahal, said she saw more than a dozen bodies and salvaged food off the ground after finding no aid left.

The UN human rights office confirmed the death toll and condemned the Israeli military’s approach, with UN High Commissioner Volker Türk stating that Palestinians face the choice of “death by starvation or gunfire.” The UN has refused to participate in the Israel-led aid distribution mechanism, calling it ineffective and dangerous.

The GHF, which coordinated the aid site, stated that the incident happened well outside the secure corridor. It distributed 21 truckloads of aid at Rafah on Tuesday but acknowledged the military’s ongoing investigation.

Separately, three Israeli soldiers were killed during combat in northern Gaza, reportedly in an explosion in Jabaliya, marking one of the deadliest attacks on Israeli forces since March.

Meanwhile, two rockets were fired from Syria into Israeli-occupied Golan Heights late Tuesday, prompting retaliatory Israeli shelling in Syria’s Daraa province. An unknown group, the Mohammed Deif Brigades, claimed responsibility. Israel blamed Syria's government and promised a "full response."

Since the conflict reignited in October 2023, over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, and Israel claims 20,000 militants among them. More than 860 Israeli soldiers have also died in the fighting.

(With AP inputs)