Twenty people were killed during a riot at an aid distribution point in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning, according to the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

In a statement, the private foundation said that 19 of the victims were trampled to death, while one person was fatally stabbed.

“We have credible reason to believe that elements within the crowd, armed and affiliated with Hamas, deliberately fomented the unrest,” the GHF stated.

According to the foundation, the incident occurred at a distribution centre in the southern city of Khan Younis.

GHF personnel claimed they observed firearms among those gathered. A U.S. staff member was allegedly threatened at gunpoint by an individual in the crowd.

The foundation’s account has not been independently verified, and Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist organisation, has not issued a comment.

The GHF, which began operating at the end of May with backing from Israel and the U.S., currently oversees food distribution in the Gaza Strip following months of Israeli restrictions on aid deliveries.

However, the foundation has come under sharp criticism from the United Nations and humanitarian organisations, who argue that it operates too few distribution points. This, they say, creates chaotic conditions that place civilians at serious risk.

Fatal incidents near aid distribution sites have been reported repeatedly in recent weeks.

While the Israeli military has often been accused of opening fire in previous cases, the latest incident has not been linked to military action.

According to the UN, hundreds of people have died at or near GHF-run distribution centres since the foundation began operations.

 (dpa/NAN)