At least 31 people were killed and scores were wounded on Sunday as they were on their way to receive food in the Gaza Strip, according to health officials and multiple witnesses.

The Palestinians were shot and scores wounded as huge crowds assembled to try and get food from a new aid distribution center. An Israeli military official said soldiers fired warning shots.

Over 170 others were wounded on the way to a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution point in Rafah in the deadliest incident tied to a new U.S.-backed aid mechanism.