85 Palestinians seeking food aid killed in Gaza

At least 85 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach food at locations across Gaza on Sunday, the territory's Health Ministry said, on the deadliest day yet for aid-seekers in over 21 months of war.

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There was new alarm as Israel's military issued evacuation orders for areas of central Gaza, one of the few areas where it has rarely operated with ground troops and where many international organizations trying to distribute aid are located.

One aid group said several groups' offices were told to evacuate immediately. There was no immediate Israeli comment on that.

The largest death toll was in devastated northern Gaza, where living conditions are especially dire.

At least 79 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach aid entering through the Zikim crossing with Israel, Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Health Ministry’s records department, told The Associated Press. The UN World Food Program said 25 trucks with aid had entered for “starving communities” when it encountered massive crowds that came under gunfire.

A UN official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to comment on the incident to the media, said Israeli forces opened fire toward the crowds who tried to take food from the convoy. Footage taken by the UN and shared with the AP showed Palestinian men running as the sound of automatic gunfire could be heard.