Foundation reports deadly hits

A USand Israeli-backed charity operating in Gaza accused Palestinian militant group Hamas of attacking aid workers en route to a distribution centre this week, saying at least five people were killed.

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The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) said a bus carrying its staff to a distribution site near Khan Yunis in the south was “brutally attacked by Hamas” around 10pm.

“We are still gathering facts, but what we know is devastating: there are at least five fatalities, multiple injuries, and fear that some of our team members may have been taken hostage,” GHF said in a statement.

The group added that all five of the people killed were Palestinian aid workers for GHF.

“These were aid workers. Humanitarians. Fathers, brothers, sons and friends, who were risking their lives every day to help others,’ the group said in its statement condemning the attack.

The distribution of food and basic supplies in the besieged Gaza Strip has become increasingly fraught and perilous, exacerbating the territory's deep hunger crisis.

Dozens of Palestinians have been killed while trying to reach distribution points since late May, according to Gaza’s civil defence.