Gaza, 26 March 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Twelve Palestinians have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea off Gaza after planes airdropped aid over the sealed-off coastal strip, according to Palestinian extremist organization Hamas.

The people had tried to reach the aid packages, which were dropped into the sea off a beach in northern Gaza, the media office of Gaza's Hamas-controlled administration said on Tuesday.

Dpa was not able to independently verify the incident which is said to have occurred on Monday afternoon.

Eyewitnesses said that some of the people didn't know how to swim, while others got caught in the ropes tying the packages together.

🚨BREAKING: 18 DEAD DUE TO FAILED AIRDROPS.

The Government Media Office in Gaza in a press statement:

“18 Palestinians have been killed so far by mishandled airdrops of aid, including 12 who drowned while trying to get aid from the sea and six due to stampedes.

We hold the… pic.twitter.com/VazVIoAQTb

— Suppressed Voice. (@SuppressedNws) March 26, 2024

The humanitarian situation in northern Gaza is considered to be particularly dire more than five months into fighting between Israel and Hamas, triggered by the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7 in which some 1,200 people were killed.

Aid convoys reach the area infrequently because Israel keeps northern border crossings with Gaza shut.

Lorries delivering aid within Gaza are at risk due to the ongoing fighting and near lawless conditions.

The US, Jordan and other countries have been airdropping aid on Gaza for about a month, but that is considered to be a costly and dangerous undertaking, with aid organizations saying airdrops cannot replace deliveries via land.

Photo: EPA archive