The GHF aid distribution scheme was established after Israel partially lifted its blockade of aid supplies into Gaza. It established four sites - called "Safe Distribution Centres (SDS)" - on the strip. Three were located in the south, near Rafah, and one in central Gaza.

At least 20 people have died during a chaotic stampede at an aid distribution site in Gaza, a US-backed aid foundation has said.

A stampede at a food distribution site run by an Israeli-backed American organization in the Gaza Strip killed 20 Palestinians on Wednesday, the group said, in the first acknowledgment of deadly violence at its operations.

At least 600 Palestinians have been killed over the past five weeks at food distributions operated by the US and Israeli-backed “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” (GHF), Gaza’s government media office said this week.

The deaths were the latest in a series of incidents surrounding new aid distribution points that have been faulted for their procedures by aid experts.