Two children and a 50-year-old woman were crushed to death outside a crowded bakery in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza amid a growing food crisis, medical officials confirmed.

They said those killed suffocated due to overcrowding as desperate residents searched for bread at the al-Banna bakery.

The bodies were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where doctors confirmed they died of asphyxia from the densely packed crowd.

The flow of food to Gaza has declined dramatically in recent months. Israeli officials report that the amount of aid allowed into the area has fallen to its lowest level in nearly 14 months of conflict.

Why is there a severe food shortage in Gaza?

According to the United Nations and aid agencies, Gaza’s population, most of which relies on humanitarian aid, is facing increasing hunger and hardship.

Many bakeries there were temporarily closed last week due to a severe flour shortage.

When they reopened, large crowds gathered and crowded in to secure what little food was available.

Footage from Deir al-Balah showed people pushing and screaming in the desperate rush.

During the ongoing conflict, many Gazans have relied on bakeries and charity kitchens for at least one meal a day, but food shortages and dangerous conditions continue to worsen.

Why are Israeli soldiers attacking residents in the West Bank?

The situation in Gaza has escalated since October 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 Israelis and taking 250 others hostage, triggering a devastating war that has killed more than 44,000 Gazans killed and over 104,000 injured, according to the territory’s health ministry.

The fighting has caused widespread destruction and displaced nearly 2.3 million Palestinians across the Gaza Strip.

Violence in the West Bank continues

In a further escalation, eight people were injured in a shooting in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank on Friday, according to the Israeli emergency service.

The attacker opened fire on an Israeli bus near the settlement of Ariel before being shot dead by Israeli forces.

Three of the injured were reportedly in critical condition.

There has been increasing violence in the West Bank over the past 14 months, and tensions have been high since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out.

Palestinian militants have targeted Israeli civilians and soldiers, while Israeli military operations in Palestinian cities have led to a rising death toll.

According to officials, Israeli forces have killed 796 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7, 2023, mostly in raids to dismantle militant groups.

In addition, attacks by Israeli settlers there on Palestinian communities and their properties have increased in recent months.

The ongoing violence in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank underscores the ongoing instability in the region as the conflict enters its second year.

This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press