ISRAELI tanks launched their first ground assault on Deir al-Balah in central Gaza today, with troops pushing through the city where several aid groups are based.

The city had been one of the few parts of Gaza where some buildings remained standing, and where functioning medical points, a desalination plant providing drinking water and waste disposal systems were still operating. 

Many thousands of displaced people from Rafah and Khan Younis in southern Gaza had sought shelter there.

The attack, which also involved air strikes, prompted fresh waves of displacement just hours after the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings to residents in the south-west of the city.

It came as 26 countries condemned the “horrifying” killing of hundreds of Gazans attempting to access food during Israeli aid operations a day earlier, stating that Israel’s assault “must end now.”

Foreign ministers from countries including Australia, Canada, Japan and about 20 European nations said “the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths” and condemned “the drip-feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food.”

“The Israeli government’s aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity,” the statement said.

“The Israeli government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law,” it said.

The EU commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management also signed the joint statement. The United States and Germany did not.

Sunday marked the deadliest day yet for Gazans seeking food, with at least 85 Palestinians killed while trying to access aid. 

A UN official, speaking anonymously due to restrictions on commenting publicly, said Israeli forces opened fire toward crowds attempting to reach a convoy of food.

Footage taken by the UN showed Palestinian men running for cover as automatic gunfire was heard.

Ehab al-Zei, who had been waiting for flour and had not eaten bread in 15 days, said: “Suddenly, tanks surrounded us and trapped us as gunshots and strikes rained down. 

“We were trapped for around two hours.” 

Speaking over the cries of people carrying the dead and wounded, he said: “I will never go back again. Let us die of hunger, it’s better.”

Nafiz al-Najjar, who was injured, said that tanks and drones targeted people “randomly,” and he saw his cousin and others shot dead.

“These people were simply trying to access food to feed themselves and their families on the brink of starvation,” the World Food Programme said.

The UN agency added that the incident occurred despite Israeli assurances that aid delivery would improve, including guarantees that armed forces would not be present or engage along aid routes. 

“Shootings near humanitarian missions, convoys and food distributions must stop immediately.”

Meanwhile, an Israeli strike on a water desalination plant in Gaza City killed at least five Palestinians. 

Across the occupied strip, at least 56 people were killed on the day, including seven more aid seekers.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 59,029 people and wounded 142,135, according to local health authorities.

Palestinian media also reported that Dr Marwan al-Hams, who led a hospital in southern Rafah and managed field hospitals across Gaza, was “kidnapped” by a special forces unit in broad daylight. 

Journalist Tamer al-Zaanin was shot dead by soldiers during the same operation, which took place as he visited a Red Cross field hospital.