Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians waiting for aid in Gaza, killing more than 100 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Hospital staff initially reported an Israeli attack on the crowds in Gaza City, but witnesses later said Israeli forces opened fire as people pulled flour and canned goods from trucks, The Associated Press reported.

Gaza health officials said at least 104 Palestinians were dead and 280 others injured, and a hospital in the northern city said it had received 10 bodies and dozens of injured patients.

Gaza City journalist Yousri Aghoul posted on Facebook: “At dawn, I and tens of thousands of people went to the Nabul West intersection to seek help, but dozens of people were shot when we came back.”

An Israeli government spokesman called the incident a “tragedy” and claimed initial indications were that the death was caused by a delivery driver plowing into a surging crowd.

“At some point, the truck was overwhelmed and the person driving the truck (Gaza civilian drivers) plowed into the crowd and ended up killing dozens of people, as I understand it,” spokesman Avi Heyman told reporters.

“It’s obviously a tragedy, but we’re not sure of the specifics yet.”

According to the BBC, Israeli military sources said the Israeli troops opened fire because they believed the soldiers were “in danger.”

The White House said it was investigating what happened, describing it as a “serious incident.”

“We mourn the loss of innocent lives and recognize the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where innocent Palestinians were simply trying to feed their families,” a White House National Security Council spokesperson said in a statement.

“This highlights the importance of expanding and sustaining humanitarian assistance to Gaza, including through a possible temporary ceasefire.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s office said he “condemns the ugly massacre this morning by Israeli occupying forces of people waiting for aid trucks at the Nabul West roundabout.”

Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesman for Gaza’s health ministry, said the incident occurred at the Nabousi roundabout, west of Gaza City in the northern part of the enclave.

Mr Chitra said medical teams were unable to cope with the number and severity of the dozens of injured arriving at Shifa hospital.

Hussam Abu Safieyah, director of Gaza City’s Kamal Adwan Hospital, said the hospital had received 10 bodies and dozens of injured patients from the incident in the west of the city.

“We don’t know how many people there are in other hospitals,” he told Reuters by phone.

Hamas warned in a statement that the incident could lead to the failure of talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire and an agreement to release hostages.

“The negotiations conducted by the movement’s leadership are not an open process at the expense of the blood of our people,” it said, referring to Thursday’s deaths and saying Israel would be held responsible for any failure in negotiations.

This breaking story is being updated.