Israeli forces shot and wounded more than 20 Palestinians on Friday as they attempted to receive aid at an US-run food distribution point in central Gaza, amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in the besieged strip.
The scenes were ‘chaotic and uncoordinated’ with no effective humanitarian mechanism in place, according to the Palestinian Wafa news agency.
Civilians in Gaza have been desperately seeking food supplies, as no essentials or humanitarian aid have entered the area since a complete Israeli siege began on 2 March.
According to recent statistics published by the Gaza-based Government Media Office, at least 58 people, including 53 children, have died as a direct result of malnutrition since the blockade of food began.
Meanwhile, a further 242 deaths were due to a lack of food and medicine, with the majority of victims being children and the elderly.
In a post on Friday, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) noted that its warehouse in Amman, a three-hour drive away from Gaza, contains enough stockpiled aid to last a month for over 200,000 people.
The essentials include flour, food parcels, hygiene kits, blankets and medical supplies.
North Gaza expulsion orders
As Israel intensifies its assault on Gaza on the 602nd day of the war, further displacement orders have been issued.
Avichay Adraee, the Arabic-speaking spokesperson for the Israeli army, called on Palestinians residing in the areas of Al-Atatra, Jabalia Al-Balad, Shujaiya, Al-Daraj and Al-Zeitoun, located in the north of the Gaza Strip, to flee westward.
‘From this moment on, the mentioned areas will be considered dangerous combat zones,’ the post read, adding that the military is expanding its operations in the region.
At least 28 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip on Friday morning, following the latest round of Israeli offensives. The death toll is expected to rise as operations intensify.
The International Organisation for Migration stated on Tuesday that nearly 180,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been forcibly displaced by recent Israeli military actions.
A statement issued on behalf of the Global Camp Coordination and Camp Management Cluster condemned direct attacks on shelters, stating that such incidents had become ‘common’.