Israeli army kills 20 Palestinians waiting for aid in Gaza city: ministry

GAZA -- The Israeli fire on Thursday struck a crowd of Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid at Kuwait Square, a major intersection in Gaza city, killing at least 20, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

The ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said in a press statement that the Israeli strike also injured 150 others, who were among the thousands waiting for humanitarian aid at Kuwait Square.

The spokesman noted that the death toll is likely to rise, as dozens of seriously injured citizens, who were sent to the city's Al-Shifa Medical Complex, may fail to be treated due to the limited medical capabilities of the hospital.

Meanwhile, Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for the Civil Defense, told Xinhua that "the Israeli army deliberately approached people from the flour carts to receive them near Kuwait Square, and began firing bursts of gunfire at them."

"We transferred a large number of wounded and deaths, but there are still large numbers of others in the place as the army continued firing and shells at anyone approaching the area," said Basal.

An Israeli military source told Xinhua that the Israel Defense Forces is looking into the reports, without revealing more information.

Kuwait Square is located on Salah al-Din Road, southeast of Gaza city. Salah al-Din is the main road that runs north to south in the Gaza Strip, and the Israeli army has set up a military checkpoint near the road to separate Gaza city from the south, with its artillery and bulldozers stationed there.