Pakistan urges ceasefire, condemns Israeli war on civilians at UN

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has called on Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement that would enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance and facilitate contact with captives held in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported, citing a statement.

In a statement, it said it is ready to provide medicine, food and messages from families to the captives, but emphasised that such efforts require a prior agreement between the concerned parties.

“Only a lasting agreement between the parties can end the suffering endured by hostages and their families as well as the millions in Gaza who are struggling to secure the essentials for survival,” it said.

“With acute food shortages worsening by the day, civilians in Gaza must have immediate and sustained access to food along with safe water, medical and hygiene supplies, and other essentials needed to survive and live in dignity.

“The window for saving lives in Gaza is closing. The time to act is now,” it warned.

Gaza’s civil defence agency said 68 people were killed by Israeli gunfire and air strikes on Tuesday, including 56 who were waiting near aid distribution sites inside the Palestinian territory.

Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that 30 people were killed by Israeli gunfire while waiting for aid near the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis.

Bassal said another 20 people were killed and 100 wounded by Israeli fire near the Zikim border crossing in northern Gaza, through which some aid trucks have entered the territory in recent weeks.

According to Bassal, six more people were killed and 21 injured by Israeli fire in central Gaza while waiting for food near a distribution centre.

Bassal said another five people were killed in a predawn air strike on a tent in Al-Mawasi in south Gaza, an area Israeli authorities designated as a safe zone early in the war.

“It’s said to be a green zone and it’s safe, but it’s not. They also say that the aid (distribution) is safe, but people die while obtaining aid,” said Adham Younes, 30, who lost a relative in the strike.

“There’s no safety within the Gaza Strip, everyone is exposed to death, everyone is subject to injury.”

US President Donald Trump declined to say whether he supported or opposed a potential military takeover of Gaza by Israel and said his administration’s focus was on increasing food access to the Palestinian enclave under assault from Washington’s ally.

“As far as the rest of it, I really can’t say. That’s going to be pretty much up to Israel,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met senior security officials on Tuesday, with media reporting he favored a complete military takeover of Gaza.