ISTANBUL 

Israeli airstrikes on Deir al-Balah city in central Gaza killed six humanitarian aid workers, said Gaza’s Government Media Office, accusing Israel of targeting efforts to deliver food and medicine.

The victims were reportedly responsible for distributing humanitarian supplies and were struck during a wave of nighttime air raids.

Authorities in Gaza said the attack came as aid trucks were attempting to reach hospitals in heavily bombed areas.

Local officials said the Israeli military is deliberately obstructing the flow of humanitarian aid by targeting workers and encouraging looting of supply convoys, preventing them from reaching civilians in need.

They described the latest incident as part of a broader pattern of actions against medical and relief efforts and called for international bodies to intervene and ensure the protection of aid teams in the territory.

The strike occurred amid renewed Israeli military operations that began on March 18, ending a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas that had been in place since Jan. 19.

Since the resumption of fighting, 3,613 Palestinians have been killed and 10,156 injured, according to Gaza health authorities.

The overall death toll since Oct. 7, 2023, has reached 53,762, with 122,917 wounded.