Civilians were fired at by tanks, drones, and a helicopter, civil defence officials say, while Israel says only that troops fired towards several suspects.

Palestinian health officials and witnesses say Israeli forces fired on people as they headed toward an aid distribution site Tuesday, killing at least 27, in the third such incident in three days.

The Israeli military said its troops fired on people who strayed from a designated route toward a food distribution site. It was the latest deadly incident involving a contentious new aid system.