Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide on Tuesday urged for an immediate end to the Israeli blockade on Gaza, emphasizing the necessity for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the region.

Eide described the situation in Gaza as a catastrophe, highlighting ongoing severe violations against civilians amid the persistent blockade.

The blockade has been in effect by Israeli forces since March 2, exacerbating food scarcity among the Gaza population and leading to a severe humanitarian crisis.

In parallel, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, denounced the lethal Israeli assaults on civilians gathered around aid distribution centers in Gaza, labeling these actions as unacceptable and categorizing them as war crimes.

Turk stated that civilians should not have to risk their lives to obtain food and insisted that these attacks violate international law.

He called for an immediate, impartial investigation and accountability for those responsible for these actions.

Reports have surfaced indicating that dozens of individuals have been killed or injured over consecutive days while attempting to access food aid.

On Tuesday, 27 individuals were reported dead due to Israeli gunfire in Rafah, according to Gaza's Civil Defense services.

The Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal reported the fatalities and confirmed that more than 90 others were injured due to gunfire near the Al-ilm roundabout in Rafah, where thousands had gathered for food assistance managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, contracted by the Israeli army and a private American security company.

Basal indicated that efforts to evacuate victims were hindered by ongoing gunfire.

Eyewitnesses recounted direct fire from Israeli forces while approaching the aid center, with accounts of aerial and ground assaults featuring helicopters and drone activity.

In response, Israeli authorities justified their use of force by asserting they had identified several 'suspects' who encroached upon restricted areas and claimed that gunfire was employed to disperse these individuals, while the military announced it is investigating reports of casualties.

A similar incident occurred last Sunday, resulting in 31 Palestinian deaths and 176 injuries as individuals awaited assistance near the same center, with the army referring to its action as 'warning shots.'

For over 20 months, human rights organizations and international legal bodies have accused Israel of committing acts of genocide against Gaza’s population through systematic excessive force against civilians and destruction of vital infrastructure.

In recent months, Israel has intensified actions that have resulted in a pervasive military-induced famine, blocking all international organizations, including UN agencies, from delivering food and medical aid, exacerbating the risk of widespread starvation.

Amid increasing international and diplomatic pressure, Tel Aviv announced in early March the engagement of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an organization with U.S. backing that collaborates with the Israeli army to facilitate aid delivery.

However, the foundation operates outside recognized humanitarian frameworks and is linked to a private American security firm that previously operated in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Reports indicate that this security company faced difficulties coordinating with the Israeli military regarding aid distribution and management in Gaza.

Consequently, the organization has been criticized for failing to uphold essential humanitarian principles while being viewed as part of Israeli military plans in Gaza.

Humanitarian queues have transformed into deadly scenarios, with numerous civilians killed and hundreds injured in their attempts to reach aid distribution centers in Rafah.