India, June 17 -- In one of the bloodiest incidents in the protracted war in the Gaza Strip, at least 51 people died asIsraeli tanks fired into a crowd trying to get aid from trucks.

Dozens of bodies were seen in videos lying in thestreet in Khan Younis in the war-torn region.

Israel has acknowledged the incident, saying it regrets the loss of civilian lives.

At least two shells exploded at a crowd of thousands, which had been waiting in the hope of getting food from aid trucks. An eyewitness confirmed the incident to Reuters.

"All of a sudden, they let us move forward and made everyone gather, and then shells started falling, tank shells," said Alaa, the eyewitness.

"No one is looking at these people with mercy. The people are dying...