UN calls for investigation into killings near Gaza relief site

The UN secretary-general has called for an independent investigation into the killings of Palestinians near a relief centre in Gaza on Sunday, amid controversial reports that Israeli forces had opened fire.

Witnesses reportedly were shot while waiting for food from the centre in Rafah run by the US-backed Humanist Gaza Foundation (GHF) and Israel.

The Red Cross said his hospital received 179 victims, 21 of whom were dead. Hamas-led Civil Protection Agency appreciated the death toll to 31.

On Sunday, the Israeli Army denied that its troops shot civilians near or inside the country and said reports in that direction were false.

The GHF said the reports were <x0 complete” and that it had yet to see evidence of an attack on or near its object.

Israel does not allow international news organisations, including the BBC, in Gaza, making it difficult to verify what is happening in the territory, as reported by the medium.

UN Secretary General Guterres said in a statement Monday: “I am terrified by reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking assistance in Gaza yesterday.

“I call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for the authors to be held accountable. ”

Israel's Foreign Ministry responded, calling his comments a <x0turp” in an X post and criticised him for not remembering Hamas, the BBC reported./Periscopi/