A controversial aid operation for Gaza backed by Israel and the US says two of its workers have been injured in an attack while giving out relief.
Two militants threw grenades at the aid centre in Khan Younis, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) said. It blamed Hamas for Saturday’s incident.
The injured US workers are in a stable condition and are receiving medical treatment. No other aid workers or civilians were harmed, the group added.
The GHF began its operations in May, distributing aid from several sites in southern and central Gaza. The system has been widely criticised for forcing vast numbers of people to walk through combat zones.
Since the GHF was launched, Israeli forces have killed more than 400 Palestinians trying to collect food aid, the UN and local doctors say. Israel says the new distribution system stops aid going to Hamas.
The attack comes as Hamas has indicated it is ready for talks on a ceasefire with Israel.
The GHF said the incident “occurred at the conclusion of an otherwise successful distribution in which thousands of Gazans safely received food”.
The organisation added it had “repeatedly warned of credible threats from Hamas”, including plans to target American personnel, Palestinian aid workers and civilians.
Hamas has not commented on the incident.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s civil defence agency said 32 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli military operations on Saturday.
On Friday, Hamas said it was ready for more talks on a ceasefire agreement put forward by the US.
The plan is believed to include the staggered release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
The BBC understands that Hamas wants amendments to the draft, including a US guarantee that hostilities will not resume when the ceasefire ends.
Hamas also wants the GHF to be scrapped and aid to be distributed by the UN and its partners only. Israel has previously rejected such demands.
Fifty hostages are still being held in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 70 people have been killed in the territory by Israeli forces in the last 24 hours.
The ministry said the total death toll in Gaza has risen to 57,338 during Israel’s war against Hamas.
The Israeli military launched its campaign in response to the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.