At least 18 Palestinians were killed on Saturday by Israeli gunfire while waiting for humanitarian aid in central Gaza, as famine continues to grip the besieged Palestinian enclave.

According to medical sources, six people were shot dead and several others wounded around midday near Wadi Gaza and the “Netzarim Corridor,” where crowds had gathered in hopes of receiving food assistance.

Earlier in the day, 12 more civilians were killed under similar circumstances near the same corridor, bringing the total death toll among aid seekers to 18 since the early hours of the morning.

Israel has kept all crossings into Gaza sealed since March 2, severely restricting the entry of food and medical supplies. International aid organizations have warned that the prolonged blockade is fueling a humanitarian catastrophe, with famine spreading rapidly across the densely populated strip.