At least 27 people were killed and dozens wounded by Israeli fire near a food distribution site in southern Gaza, local health authorities said, in the third day of chaos and bloodshed to affect the aid operation.
The Israeli military said its forces had opened fire on a group of individuals who had left designated access routes near the distribution centre in Rafah.
It added it was still investigating what had happened.
The deaths came hours after Israel said three of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in northern Gaza, as its forces pushed ahead with a months-long offensive against Hamas militants that has laid waste to much of the territory.
A spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross said that its field hospital in Rafah received 184 casualties, adding that 19 of those were declared dead upon arrival, and eight died of their wounds shortly after.