Palestinian health officials and the local ambulance service say Israeli airstrikes and gunfire have killed at least 42 people in Gaza.

According to staff at the Shifa hospital, most of the victims were killed by gunfire as they waited for aid trucks close to the Zikim crossing with Israel.View on euronews

Twenty-one months into Israel’s war in Gaza, the enclave is gripped by escalating scenes of death and hunger, with some killed while trying to reach aid, others dying of starvation and growing condemnation of Israel’s conduct even among many of its closest allies.

"Israeli authorities are the sole decision makers on who, how, and how much aid enters the Gaza Strip, and the type of supplies that are allowed in,” Stéphane Dujarric told the 'Post. ' While hundreds of aid trucks are positioned near the Kerem Shalom crossing,

Amichay Eliyahu’s comments came amid growing hunger in the territory, where Israel controls the delivery of food.

For years, Gazans haven’t had free access to this precious natural resource. Israeli limits on fishing activities have fluctuated with tensions with Hamas, with limits of just three nautical miles and even previous total bans on fishing imposed at times.

Hamas has reportedly taken steps to fend off possible Israeli military plans aimed at rescuing the 50 remaining hostages in Gaza.

Appearing on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Bob Geldof said this month, a thousand children or people have died of starvation.