Palestinians living in tent camps or trying to receive scarce humanitarian aid were among the 25 people killed in Israeli airstrikes and shelling in the Gaza Strip today, the Associated Press reported, citing local hospitals, BTA reports.
Fourteen people were killed in Israeli strikes on the southern part of the enclave early this morning, Nasser Hospital reported.
The attack targeted displaced people in Khan Younis, which has become home to hundreds of thousands of people who have fled their homes from across the Gaza Strip. More than half of those killed were women and children.
In the northern part of the enclave, five people were killed by Israeli shelling while trying to receive humanitarian aid near the "Zikim" border crossing, where UN and other aid convoys enter the enclave, local health authorities said.
Six more people were killed in separate attacks in the Gaza Strip on Monday, local hospitals and the Palestinian Red Cross said.
The new Palestinian casualties came as the hunger situation worsened.
A report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification System (IPSS) on Tuesday officially declared the Gaza Strip a famine zone. Israel has denied the claims, and the army is continuing preparations to take over Gaza City, the AP notes.