Now the primary vehicle for food distribution inside Gaza, the controversial U.S.- and Israeli-backed operation is an issue in ongoing ceasefire negotiations.

The World Health Organization said the Israeli military attacked its staff residence and main warehouse in the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah on Monday, compromising its operations in Gaza. The United Nations agency said the WHO staff residence was attacked three times,

In a joint statement the countries call for an end to the war and the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

The attacks came as Israel’s military expanded ground operations in central Gaza, displacing more civilians amid a severe hunger crisis.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The U.N. food agency accused Israel of using tanks, snipers and other weapons to fire on a crowd of Palestinians seeking food aid, in what the territory’s Health Ministry said was one of the deadliest days for aid-seekers in over 21 months of war.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and 24 of her counterparts abroad have signed a joint statement saying "the war in Gaza must end now," while calling on Israel to stop displacing Palestinians.

Hams, a senior Gaza Health Ministry official, outside the field hospital of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday, the ministry said.

Gaza has experienced its deadliest day in over 21 months of conflict, with at least 85 Palestinians killed while seeking aid, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

The central city is one of the few parts of Gaza so far spared a major ground operation during the Israel-Hamas war.

At least 73 people were killed and around 150 people injured by Israeli gunfire in Gaza while seeking aid on Sunday, according to the Palestinian health ministry.