At least 27 Palestinians were killed and dozens more injured early Tuesday after the Israeli army reportedly opened fire nearby a humanitarian aid distribution site in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, according to Gaza-based health authorities. The incident took place close to the busy Al-Alam roundabout in western Rafah, where large crowds had gathered to receive essential supplies, with this marking the third consecutive day of bloodshed at an aid distribution site. The ongoing violence has worsened Gaza's grim humanitarian crisis, where severe food shortages have already left thousands of Palestinians struggling to access basic necessities. There were scenes of chaos as people sought to flee the area during Tuesday's attack, with the injured being rushed to hospital while grieving mourners stood over the bodies of the victims who had lost their lives. In the aftermath, local people told of the daily anguish being felt by residents in Gaza as they come under repeated bombardment during a time of desperate need. "We've been targeted by warplanes, tanks, and ground forces. Don't we have the right to live in dignity? We're enduring every kind of injustice. We deserve to live like any other human being," said a young boy. "We only wanted to feed our children -- they're the ones who need food, not us. We're used to going without, like during Ramadan. That's why we rushed to the aid distribution site. They tempted people with promises of help, but in the end, they opened fire. Why? What did we do to deserve this?" said a local woman. "We're in desperate need. I have six mouths to feed. But instead, we were bombarded," added another local who was receiving treatment in hospital. "Israeli forces tell people to move to so-called safe zones, but the reality is, there are no safe places," said another dismayed Gaza resident as he told of the horrifying situation. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Tuesday that the incident occurred during the movement of the crowd on the route heading towards the aid distribution site. The IDF claimed its troops had identified several suspects who were approaching them after deviating from the designated access routes several hundred meters from the location of the aid center. The new aid scheme for Gazans run by the United States and supported by Israel was described as "a recipe for disaster" by Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on Tuesday. Scores of deaths have been reported in the last three days among Gazans thronging for food at the few new, militarized aid distribution points under the U.S.-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). SHOTLIST: Rafah City, Gaza Strip - June 2, 2025 1. Various of ruins, tents, people moving belongings; 2. People on ground during attack, trying to run away from bombarded area; Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip - June 3, 2025 3. People rushing injured victims to hospital; 4. Bodies of victims wrapped in white medical bags on floor; 5. People mourning their lost loved ones; 6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) local boy (name not given): "We've been targeted by warplanes, tanks, and ground forces. Don't we have the right to live in dignity? We're enduring every kind of injustice. We deserve to live like any other human being."; 7. Man carrying bag of aid through crowd; 8. Ambulance full of bodies of victims; 9. Medical staff assisting injured patient on stretcher; 10. Injured victim with bloodied legs wrapped in bandages; 11. Bodies of victims wrapped in white medical bags on ground, grieving mourners nearby; 12. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) local woman (name not given): "We only wanted to feed our children -- they're the ones who need food, not us. We're used to going without, like during Ramadan. That's why we rushed to the aid distribution site. They tempted people with promises of help, but in the end, they opened fire. Why? What did we do to deserve this?"; 13. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) injured man (name not given): "We're in desperate need. I have six mouths to feed. But instead, we were bombarded."; 14. People laying bodies of victims wrapped in white bags on ground; Gaza City, Gaza Strip - June 3, 2025 15. Blood stains on ground; 16. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) local man (name not given): "As you can see, all that's left here are body parts. Israeli forces tell people to move to so-called safe zones, but the reality is, there are no safe places."; 17. Smoke rising from bombarded area, people on street. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]