At least 104 people killed in shelling in Gaza Strip

The death toll is expected to rise as many of the injured are in serious condition. All of the injured have been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, including Al-Shifa and Kamal Adwan. However, a spokesman for Gaza’s health ministry said Al-Shifa lacks medical supplies and equipment and staff are unable to cope with the large number of patients.

According to Palestinian medical sources and witnesses, the incident occurred as a crowd of Palestinians gathered to receive humanitarian aid on a coastal road in western Gaza City. Witnesses said the Israeli army shelling hit the crowd. Gaza's health authorities described the incident as a "massacre".

Initially, an Israeli military spokesman said the troops had used fire in "self-defense" after Gazans surrounded a convoy of aid trucks entering the northern coastal enclave early on Monday. Dozens of Gazans were injured in the chaos, the spokesman said, with some trampled or crushed. Later, an Israeli source told AFP that the crowd had approached Israeli forces in a way they believed could endanger the troops, prompting them to respond with fire.

In a statement, the Hamas Islamic Movement said the incident could lead to the collapse of current negotiations aimed at reaching a ceasefire and releasing hostages in the Gaza Strip.