The UN World Food Programme has warned that nearly a third of Gaza's population is going hungry. Malnutrition is on the rise. 90,000 women and children need urgent medical attention, the organisation said in a statement. News-BBC

The hunger alert in Gaza has intensified this week, with nine people dying of malnutrition on Friday, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said, bringing the total number of such deaths to 122.

Israel, which controls all supply routes into Gaza, has said there are no restrictions on aid deliveries and has blamed Hamas for the malnutrition.

An Israeli security official said on Friday that permission to deliver aid by air could be granted in the coming days, after aid agencies had previously warned that such delivery was not enough.

Local media say the United Arab Emirates and Jordan could provide aid in this way. However, a Jordanian official told the BBC that they had not yet received permission from Israel. The initiative comes at a time of growing international concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Germany, France and the UK on Friday called on Israel to immediately lift all restrictions. In a joint statement, they called for an immediate end to the fighting and humanitarian catastrophe. They said Israel must abide by its obligations under international law. "It is unacceptable to stop essential humanitarian assistance for civilians," the statement said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he could not explain the extent of the division, indifference and inaction seen among many in the international community - a lack of empathy, truth and humanity.

Speaking at Amnesty International's global rally, he said that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since May 27 while trying to get food.

This has been happening since the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by the US and Israel, began distributing food as an alternative to UN-led food distribution.

Anthony Aguilar, a US security contractor working with the GHF, told the BBC that he "without question saw war crimes being committed". He said he saw IDF and US security officials using ammunition, mortars and tanks firing on civilians at food distribution points.

"I have never seen such brutality in my entire career. I have seen indiscriminate and unnecessary use of force against civilians by the IDF and US contractors," the retired soldier said.

GHF claims that the allegations come from a disgruntled former contractor who was fired a month ago for alleged misconduct.

Meanwhile, the United States and Israel have withdrawn their teams from the Qatar talks, leaving talks on a new ceasefire and the release of hostages uncertain. US President Donald Trump said Hamas did not really want a deal. "I think they want to die," he said.

Hamas expressed surprise at the US comments. A senior Hamas official told the BBC's Gaza correspondent that mediators had said the talks had not completely broken down and that the Israeli team would return to Doha next week.

Israel launched an operation in Gaza after Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The Hamas attack killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. The Hamas-run Health Ministry said that 59,000 people have died in Gaza since the Israeli attack.

Israel imposed a blockade on food aid in early March and then resumed attacks two months later, ending a ceasefire. Although the blockade has since eased somewhat, global experts have raised fears of famine there. In particular, shortages of food, medicine and fuel have become acute.

Most of Gaza's people have lost their homes several times, and 90 percent of them have been destroyed. France said on Thursday it would recognize Palestine as a state in September.

A third of UK MPs have since written to the Prime Minister urging him to follow suit. However, Sir Keir Starmer has indicated that such a move is unlikely to be made any time soon. "It could be part of a wider plan, the ultimate outcome of which will be a two-state solution."