At least 23 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in the early hours of today as Israeli forces intensified their bombardment of various areas across the Gaza Strip, with the heaviest strikes reported in the central region, Wafa reports.

Local sources said that Israeli troops opened live fire directly at civilians gathered near aid distribution points in central Gaza, killing 15 people and wounding many others.

Medical officials confirmed that five more bodies arrived at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, including two people who succumbed to injuries sustained during an airstrike on a tent near al-Khaldi Mosque, as artillery shelling simultaneously hit the eastern al-Tuffah neighbourhood.

In Khan Younis, three Palestinians were killed in a drone strike targeting a group of civilians near the Islamic University, according to reports.