DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli strikes killed at least 36 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Monday, including a pregnant woman and her newborn, local health officials said. Israel meanwhile eased some aid restrictions as it came under mounting pressure over the spiraling hunger crisis in the war-ravaged territory.

A plume of smoke billows over the Gaza Strip seen from southern Israel as the army continues operations while taking 'tactical pauses' in some areas of the Palestinian territory to enable aid distribu

UNICEF has criticised airdrops as costly and not sufficiently targeted, meaning that those who arrive first will benefit from the aid.

Two Israeli rights groups said Israel was carrying out "coordinated, deliberate action to destroy Palestinian society in the Gaza strip."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the urgent need for increased aid to the Gaza Strip. He warned that Gaza is on the brink of famine, with critical shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel.

Humanitarian aid was dropped into the Gaza Strip from the air for the second consecutive day on Monday, with some 20 pallets of food parachuted into the blockaded coastal area from Jordanian and Emirati aircraft,

Germany plans to establish an airlift to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip with the support of Jordan, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday. The operation is set to begin "immediately," he said following a meeting of the Security Cabinet in Berlin.

Humanitarian aid trucks resumed their movement from Egypt toward the Gaza Strip, marking the third consecutive day of aid deliveries, Egyptian media said Tuesday.