The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation started distributing aid this week, but it was off to a rough start as desperate Palestinians scrambled to get food after weeks of delays. The group denies any reports of violence and says it will push forward with opening more distribution points in the strip.

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.

Israel is facing growing international pressure as aid distribution efforts in Gaza devolved into chaos during the first days of a controversial new mechanism backed by the United States and Israel.