It came as international criticism mounted over the humanitarian situation for Gaza's population of more than two million, with Israel denying its responsibility for chronic food shortages and instead blaming Hamas.

"Last night, the (Israeli military) identified a projectile launched from the Khan Yunis area in southern Gaza, toward the area in which the aid distribution sites in Rafah are located," an army statement read.

It added the projectile fell around 250 metres (820 feet) from an aid site adjacent to the so-called Morag Corridor between the southern cities of Khan Yunis and Rafah.

Three distribution points operated by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) are located in southern Gaza.

In a statement, Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, said it had "shelled an enemy command and control site in the Morag axis on Wednesday evening" using a short-range rocket system.

Israel's military said that "despite the projectile launch, the aid distribution site in the Morag area opened today... and tens of thousands of weekly food packages were distributed to families".

"The projectile launch is yet another example of the ongoing attempts by the terrorist organisation to systematically and brutally sabotage the aid distribution program operated by the American company and international organisations," it added.

Deaths of people waiting for handouts in huge crowds near food distribution points in Gaza have become a regular occurrence, with the territory's authorities frequently blaming Israeli fire.

More than 100 aid and rights groups have warned that "mass starvation" is spreading across Gaza after more than 21 months of fighting between Israel and Hamas.