• One Palestinian killed and 48 wounded during chaos at a new Gaza aid distribution site.
• Israeli forces fired upon a crowd overruning the site, leading to escalating tensions.
• UN and humanitarian groups criticize the new aid distribution mechanism as inadequate for Gaza's needs.

At least one Palestinian was killed and 48 others wounded when gunshots rang out at a new aid distribution site in the Gaza Strip, as reported by Gaza's Health Ministry. The chaos unfolded as a large crowd of Palestinians overran the site, which had been established by an Israeli and U.S.-backed foundation, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) HuffPost, India Times, and Los Angeles Times.

Crowds surged past fences surrounding the distribution hub, leading to gunfire, though it remains unclear whether Israeli forces or private security contractors were responsible. Eyewitness accounts documented Israeli tank and gunfire, and military helicopters reportedly fired flares during the incident HuffPost and Los Angeles Times.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israeli operations targeted Hamas militants, with recent airstrikes reportedly killing senior Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar. This action underscores continued tensions between Israeli forces and Hamas, which initiated the current conflict with an attack on October 7, resulting in significant casualties on both sides India Times and Los Angeles Times.

The international community has expressed concern over the new GHF aid distribution system, with the U.N. stating that it does not comply with humanitarian principles and warning that it might enable Israel to control the population through food distribution HuffPost, India Times, and Los Angeles Times.

Ajith Sunghay, head of the U.N. Human Rights Office for the Palestinian territories, criticized the situation, noting that the "dangers of distributing food under (these) circumstances" had become evident, as desperate Palestinians seek aid amidst severe shortages fueled by ongoing Israeli border closures Los Angeles Times and India Times.