GAZA - At least 12 Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli airstrikes and gunfire across the Gaza Strip, including civilians near humanitarian aid distribution sites, according to local health officials.

The war began when Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostage. They are still holding 53 captives, less than half of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.

At least 27 Palestinians were killed near a Gaza food distribution hub operated by a controversial U.S.-backed group, the enclave's Hamas-run health ministry says.

The distribution of aid from a controversial new US- and Israel-backed organization into Gaza was paused for 24 hours on Wednesday after Palestinians en route to a distribution site came under fire for three straight days,

Palestinian health officials and witnesses say Israeli forces fired on people as they headed toward an aid distribution site on Tuesday, killing at least 27, in the third such shooting in three days.