Kathmandu— Israeli strikes killed at least five Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Friday, with medical sources reporting that three members of the Abdeen family were among those killed. The attacks occurred amidst a worsening humanitarian crisis, as new data reveals widespread hunger and limited access to essential goods despite a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States last year.

Recent Israeli Attacks

An Israeli drone strike north of Khan Younis in southern Gaza targeted a group of Palestinians early Friday morning, resulting in the deaths of three members of the Abdeen family. Their bodies were transported to Nasser Medical Complex. In Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood, Hassan al-Deiri was killed when a drone fired a missile at civilians, and several others were wounded, with victims taken to al-Shifa Hospital. A third attack in the Mashahra area east of Gaza City struck a tent housing displaced people, killing one person and injuring multiple others.

West Bank Violence

The Israeli military also conducted a strike in Jenin, located in the occupied West Bank, on Friday, resulting in the deaths of three Palestinians. The army identified one of those killed as Qais Bitawi, alleging – without providing evidence – that he was a Hamas operative. Additionally, the military claimed to have killed two Palestinian commanders, purportedly affiliated with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), in separate attacks on Gaza City on Thursday.

Worsening Food Insecurity

The latest violence unfolds against a backdrop of severe food insecurity within the Gaza Strip. Recent data released by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) indicates that nearly half of those surveyed, 46 percent, reported experiencing hunger at least once in the past 30 days. Seven percent reported going to bed hungry more than ten times during that period, and half of households have completely run out of food at least once. Approximately 21 percent of surveyed households are currently consuming only one meal per day.

Restricted Aid Access

The WFP’s analysis also revealed significant barriers to accessing food, with three-quarters of surveyed households reporting difficulties reaching markets due to cash shortages and high prices. Food access remains severely constrained by Israeli restrictions on the entry of goods into Gaza; the daily average number of trucks entering the strip since last year's ceasefire is 217 – significantly lower than the agreed-upon figure of 600 trucks per day.

The situation in Gaza remains volatile, with ongoing violence and a deepening humanitarian crisis. The WFP continues to monitor food security levels and advocate for increased aid access to alleviate the suffering of civilians.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.