Charity and aid groups said in a joint statement that more than 500 Palestinians had been killed and almost 4,000 injured in less than four weeks while trying to access or distribute food in Gaza.

More than 170 non-governmental organisations called on Tuesday for a U.S.- and Israeli-backed food aid distribution scheme in Gaza to be dismantled over concerns it is putting civilians at risk of death and injury.

International charities, including Oxfam and Amnesty, are urging the disbandment of an Israeli and U.S.-backed aid mechanism in Gaza.