AT LEAST 73 people were killed while attempting to access desperately needed aid at locations across Gaza today, the health ministry said.

The largest toll was in northern Gaza, where at least 67 Palestinians were killed while trying to reach aid entering northern Gaza through the Zikim crossing with Israel, according to the ministry and local hospitals. More than 150 people were wounded, with some of them in critical condition.

Eye-witnesses confirmed that the Israeli military shot at the crowd.

Witnesses and health workers say hundreds of people have been killed by Israeli fire while trying to access the group’s distribution sites.

The Israeli military didn’t immediately make any comment on Sunday’s killings.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military published new evacuation warnings for areas of central Gaza on Sunday, in one of the few areas where the military has rarely operated with ground troops.

The evacuation cuts access between the city of Deir al-Balah and the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis in the narrow enclave.

The announcement came as Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks in Qatar, but international mediators say there have been no breakthroughs.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly insisted that expanding Israel’s military operations in Gaza will pressure Hamas to negotiate, but negotiations have been stalled for months.

Hamas wants a guarantee from the US that Israel’s onslaught on Gaza will not resume even if the ceasefire ends without a permanent truce.

The evacuation announcement covers an area stretching from a previously evacuated area all the way to the coast.

Military spokesman Avichay Adraee warned the IDF will attack “with intensity” against militants. 

He called for residents, including those sheltering in tents, to head to Muwasi, a desolate tent camp on Gaza’s southern shore that the Israeli military has designated a humanitarian zone.

The Hostages Family Forum, an organisation that represents many of the families of hostages, condemned the evacuation announcement, demanding that Mr Netanyahu and the Israeli military explain what they hope to accomplish in the area of central Gaza.

Accusing Israel of operating without a clear war plan, the forum said in a statement: “Enough! The Israeli people overwhelmingly want an end to the fighting and a comprehensive agreement that will return all of the hostages.”  

During the weekly protest on Saturday night tens of thousands of protesters marched in Tel Aviv to the local branch of the US embassy, demonstrating for an end to the war.