UN says Gaza aid 'constrained by restrictions' as Israeli ceasefire violations continue

The UN has said that although some aid is entering Gaza, the enclave is still facing Israeli restrictions that are hampering humanitarian relief efforts.

During a press conference on Thursday, UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said that the UN's office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is scaling up aid, "but remains constrained by ongoing restrictions and other impediments".

The restrictions include the limited number of entry points into Gaza, which is forcing convoys to move through the Philadelphi corridor and up Gaza's coastal road, which is heavily damaged and congested.

Citing the UN's World Food Programme, Haq said that "Over half a million people have received food assistance through 43 general food distribution points", adding "that is a major increase - though it still covers only about 35 per cent of the monthly target of 1.6 million people".

As the UN tries to expand aid provision into Gaza, Israel has continued its ceasefire violations, killing two Palestinians on Friday, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.

One Palestinian was killed in an Israeli strike on the town of Abasan al-Kabira, east of Khan Younis, while a second was killed by an Israeli sniper on Al-Jalaa street in Gaza City.

A third died of wounds sustained in a strike on the Al-Mawasi area.

Israel has also carried out strikes in several areas of the Gaza Strip, including in Gaza City's Tuffah and Shujaiya neighbourhoods, as well as in Khan Younis. 

Following Hamas' return of the bodies of two Israeli captives, Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch, Israel released the bodies of 30 Palestinians, which were returned to the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis via the Red Cross.