Officials from three prominent United Nations organizations cautioned on Monday that without increased assistance, the people of Gaza will face widespread famine and illness. This warning comes as the authorities in the area confirmed that the death toll in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has exceeded 24,000.

The leaders of the U.N. agencies did not specifically blame Israel, but they stated that the delivery of aid is hindered by limited border crossings, lengthy inspections for trucks and goods entering Gaza, and ongoing conflict in the area – all of which Israel has a significant influence on.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which began after Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7th, has caused widespread devastation in the small coastal area. As a result, a humanitarian crisis has emerged, with the majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents being displaced and over a quarter facing starvation, according to the United Nations.

In addition, it has heightened tensions in the region as Iran-supported factions in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen have launched attacks to show their support for the Palestinians. On Monday, a missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels hit a cargo ship owned by an American company, following recent strikes led by the U.S. against the group in response to their targeting of international ships.

Civilians in Gaza are in a state of desperation. A video shared by Al Jazeera on the internet depicted a large group of people hastily approaching a truck that appeared to be carrying aid in Gaza City. The authenticity and date of the video could not be confirmed by the Associated Press.

On Monday, the World Food Program, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization stated that additional pathways must be established for entry into Gaza, an increased number of trucks must be granted access daily, and safe movement should be permitted for aid workers and individuals in need of aid.

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, stated that the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza is hindered by the intense and continuous bombing. He also expressed concern over the 152 UN staff members who have lost their lives in the war, the highest number in the organization’s history.

The Gaza Health Ministry, under the control of Hamas, reported on Monday that 132 individuals who were killed in Israeli attacks were taken to hospitals in Gaza. This brings the total number of deaths since the beginning of the war to 24,100.

The ministry does not differentiate between combatants and non-combatants in their count, claiming that two-thirds of those who have died in the war were women and children. Israel has stated that their forces have killed around 8,000 militants, but has not presented any proof.

The Palestinian death toll is being attributed to Hamas by Israel, who claims that the group uses civilian structures and carries out attacks from heavily populated cities.

The military announced that on Monday, they directed their forces and planes to attack militants in Khan Younis, the second-largest city in southern Gaza. This area is currently the main target of the ground offensive. They also targeted militants in northern Gaza, where the Israeli military claims to be increasing their control.

The White House recently stated that it is time for Israel to reduce its military attacks. In response, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that the intense offensive in southern Gaza will be decreased once Israel gains full military control of the region.

In a Tel Aviv suburb, a woman was fatally injured and 12 others were harmed in a vehicular and knife assault allegedly committed by two Palestinians. The individuals were apprehended and are accused of stealing three vehicles and deliberately targeting pedestrians.

The attack was commended by Hamas, but neither they nor any other armed Palestinian groups took credit for it.

Since the beginning of the conflict, Palestinians have engaged in multiple assaults on Israelis, primarily in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports that approximately 350 Palestinians have been fatally injured by Israeli forces in the West Bank, largely during clashes during Israeli arrest operations or aggressive demonstrations.

On October 7th, the conflict started with a sudden assault by Hamas into Israel, resulting in the death of approximately 1,200 individuals, the majority of them being innocent civilians. The fighters took around 250 individuals captive and currently have about half of them still in their grasp. Over 100 have been released in return for Palestinians who were imprisoned by Israel during a cease-fire in November.

On Monday evening, Hamas shared a video featuring three individuals held captive: Noa Argamani (26), Yossi Sharabi (53), and Itay Svirsky (38). The video included short statements from each of them, likely made under pressure, in which they plead for Israel to stop the ongoing war. They also mentioned their dire circumstances, with limited access to food and water and the threat of Israeli airstrikes.

In the video, Argamani mentions that Sharabi and Svirsky were killed in separate airstrikes, and she was also injured. The footage then displays the presumed bodies of Sharabi and Svirsky.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson for the Israeli military, stated that the army had informed the families of Svirsky and another captive about their grave concerns regarding their survival. He also mentioned that Israel had targeted a nearby building in an attempt to rescue the hostages, but were unsure of their precise whereabouts at the time.

On Monday, Gallant, the defense minister of Israel, stated that using military force is the only means to secure the release of the remaining hostages. He also rejected the idea of a ceasefire.

The ongoing combat, currently in its 101st day, has caused an unparalleled humanitarian emergency in Gaza. The region was already facing challenges due to a prolonged blockade enforced by Israel and Egypt following Hamas’ rise to power in 2007.

The situation in northern Gaza has been particularly dire. On Sunday, the United Nations reported that only 25% of aid convoys were able to reach their intended destinations in the north during the month of January, as Israeli authorities denied access. Israeli officials did not provide any immediate response.

The United Nations organizations have expressed their desire to have permission to use the Israeli port of Ashdod, which is situated approximately 40 kilometers (24 miles) north of Gaza. They believe this would enable them to deliver larger quantities of aid that can then be distributed directly to the northern areas of Gaza, which were heavily damaged by Israel during the initial weeks of the conflict.

The Israeli government has accused the United Nations and other organizations of being responsible for the issues with distributing aid.

Last week, Moshe Tetro, an official from COGAT, a branch of the Israeli military responsible for managing Palestinian civilian affairs, suggested that the delivery of aid would be more efficient if the U.N. provided additional workers to receive and pack the supplies. He also noted the need for more trucks to transport the aid for security checks in Israel and for extended working hours at the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

After Hamas’ attack on October 7th, Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza. However, under pressure from its top ally, the U.S., Israel eventually lifted the restrictions. Both the U.S. and the U.N. have been urging Israel to allow more aid to flow into Gaza.

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Samy Magdy provided coverage from Cairo, while Tia Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel.

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Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war