The Israeli military is again advancing into Gaza and has blocked most aid, causing widespread hunger. A new but widely criticized system for getting in relief started operating last week.

Dozens were feared dead and scores wounded Sunday after the Israel Defense Forces opened fire on a group receiving food from a collection point in the Gaza Strip, according to hospital officials and witnesses on the ground. The reports were vigorously denied by the organization charged with distributing aid.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began delivering aid this week after an 11-week embargo. Israel i Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on May 19 that Israel, "with our American friends," was creating a "system with distribution centers" that would be "secured by the IDF, preventing Hamas from reaching the area."

Meanwhile, the U.N. Food Program said 77 trucks carrying aid were stopped by hungry people who took the food before the trucks were able to reach their destination.

International nonprofit organisation Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said one of its vessels left the Italian port of Catania on Sunday, heading for Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid, after a previous attempt failed due to a drone attack on a separate ship in the Mediterranean.

JERUSALEM: The UN warned on Friday (May 30) that the entire population of Gaza was at risk of famine, as an Israeli far-right minister urged the use of "full force" against Hamas. Negotiations to end nearly 20 months of war have so far failed to achieve a breakthrough,