ISRAELI forces today shot and killed at least 11 Palestinians seeking aid at the Kuwait roundabout south of Gaza City, the Wafa news agency reported.

More than 20 others were reportedly injured during the attack.

Around 400 Palestinians seeking aid have been shot dead by the Israelis in the last two weeks since the so-called “flour massacre” in late February, when 112 people were killed and some 760 injured in Gaza city.

The Gaza media office said: “The occupation army insists on targeting those searching for a living for their children to satisfy their hunger.”

Palestinians are reported to be dying from dehydration and starvation, but the Israelis insist on maintaining a tight control over access to aid.

The Gaza Health Ministry has puts the latest death toll for Palestinians at 31,184 since the Israeli killing spree began after the October 7 attack by Hamas, during which 1,200 were killed and 250 hostages taken. 

Conditions are especially dire in northern Gaza, which has suffered widespread devastation and been largely cut off by Israeli forces since October. 

Up to 300,000 Palestinians are believed to have remained there despite Israeli evacuation orders, with many reduced to eating animal feed in recent weeks.

An aid ship loaded with 200 tons of food set sail for Gaza today in a pilot programme for the opening of a sea corridor to the territory.

The food was gathered by World Food Kitchen, the charity founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, and is being carried on a barge attached to a ship belonging to the Spanish aid group Open Arms. 

The ship is expected to arrive at an undisclosed location on the Gaza coastline in two to three days, although Mr Andres and the ship’s captain, Oscar Camps, confirmed the food was destined for northern Gaza.

The United States has separately announced plans to construct a sea bridge near Gaza in order to deliver aid, but it will likely be several weeks before it is operational. 

President Joe Biden’s administration has continued to provide crucial military aid for Israel while urging it to facilitate more humanitarian access.

The Israelis have left a trail of devastation across Gaza, including the destruction of 60 per cent of its buildings, most medical facilities and education infrastructures.

Bombed three times, the headquarters of the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions in Gaza was reportedly destroyed on Monday, as well as its offices in al-Rimal neighbourhood and Yarmouk Street.