GAZA CITY — An Israeli airstrike on Tuesday struck a street in central Gaza, killing 18 Palestinians and injuring 12 others, according to hospital officials.
Witnesses said the victims had gathered to collect flour from a Palestinian police unit that had reportedly seized the goods from groups accused of looting aid convoys.
The strike occurred amid worsening food shortages in the Gaza Strip, where ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has disrupted humanitarian aid deliveries.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident. In previous statements, Israeli officials have maintained that military operations are aimed at Hamas targets, not civilians.
The attack has drawn renewed international concern over civilian casualties and the broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Aid organizations report increasing difficulty in delivering essential supplies due to the ongoing hostilities, with the civilian population facing dire shortages of food and medicine.