One of the shootings is said to have taken place near a aid distribution site southwest of Khan Yunis and the other near Rafah, says the civil defense spokesperson Mahmud Bassal.
Both incidents occurred near sites operated by the criticized Israeli-American organization Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Severe injuries
Many have severe injuries, according to staff at Nasser Hospital for the newspaper Haaretz. Hospital manager Atef al-Hout warns that the death toll may rise further, as the hospital lacks equipment, medicine and staff.
Testimonies claim that Israeli military surrounded the area where thousands of Palestinians had gathered. Soldiers are then said to have fired shots. Many of the dead and injured are said to be children and teenagers.
Israeli military, who are accused of the shooting, say that they only fire warning shots if crowds get too close to their soldiers.
The military says in a comment that they "identified suspects who approached them during operational activity in the Rafah area and posed a threat to the soldiers". They then allegedly urged the individuals to turn back and "after they did not comply, the soldiers fired warning shots".
Chaotic distribution
The military adds that they were not aware of the reports of deaths but that they will investigate the incident. GHF claims that the reports of several people being killed near their distribution sites are false.
The distribution at GHF facilities has often been chaotic. Food boxes are left stacked on the ground at the distribution sites and when they are opened, crowds storm in to take what they can, according to witnesses and videos released by GHF themselves.
Gaza's more than two million Palestinians live in the midst of a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, and the territory is balancing on the brink of starvation, according to food security experts.
