The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has accused Hamas-affiliated individuals of fomenting an incident which caused the killing of 20 people earlier this morning at one of its distribution hubs in southern Khan Younis, Al Jazeera reports.

At least 19 of the victims were trampled and one was stabbed “amid a chaotic and dangerous surge, driven by agitators in the crowd”, the GHF said in a statement.

“We have credible reason to believe that elements within the crowd — armed and affiliated with Hamas — deliberately fomented the unrest.”

GHF personnel said that they had identified multiple firearms in the crowd, and added that an American worker was also threatened with a firearm by someone within the crowd.

The GHF has been heavily criticised since its establishment in May. More than 800 Palestinians have been killed near or at its distribution sites.