NEW DELHI: At least 27 Palestinians were killed and over 60 injured in an Israeli airstrike near an aid distribution point in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Monday evening, local health officials said. The area was reportedly crowded with displaced civilians waiting for humanitarian supplies.

Eyewitnesses claimed the site, located close to a UN-supervised food distribution centre, had no visible militant presence. Video footage shared by local journalists showed scenes of panic, charred debris, and wounded civilians being rushed to overwhelmed hospitals.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strike targeted a Hamas-linked operational facility allegedly using the civilian area as cover. “We regret any harm to civilians and are reviewing the incident,” the IDF said in a statement.

The Gaza Health Ministry called the attack a “massacre” and urged the international community to act.

The strike has drawn sharp criticism from humanitarian agencies and foreign governments. The United Nations and European Union condemned the loss of civilian lives, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres calling for an immediate ceasefire and an independent probe.

The incident comes amid intensifying fighting in Gaza, where more than 36,000 people have been killed since the war began. Aid agencies warn that with access routes under threat and key supply lines blocked, the region is on the verge of famine and total collapse.