“Today, we stop everything to save and bring back the hostages and soldiers. Today, we stop everything to remember the supreme value of the sanctity of life,” said Anat Angrest, mother of hostage Matan Angrest. “Today, we stop everything to join hands — right, left, centre and everything in between.”

Even as the protests continued, two more children died of malnutrition-related causes in Gaza, bringing the total over the last 24 hours to seven, according to the health ministry there, which is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. Five adults also died of apparent starvation.

Alongside, COGAT — the military body also responsible for coordinating the dispersal of humanitarian aid into Gaza — said on Sunday that a larger influx of tents would now be allowed, if not food and water, sanitary and medical supplies. Apparently, the United Nations may now ‘resume’ supply of shelter equipment into Gaza ahead of plans to forcibly evacuate people from combat zones “for their protection”.

Hospitals and witnesses in Gaza said Israeli forces killed at least 17 aid-seekers on Sunday, including nine awaiting UN aid trucks close to the Morag corridor.

Hamza Asfour reportedly told the Associated Press said he was just north of the corridor, waiting for the convoy, when Israeli snipers open fire into the crowds. Tanks took up the refrain too from hundreds of metres away. Asfour said he saw two people with gunshot wounds — one in the chest and the other in the shoulder.

“It’s either to take this risk or wait and see my family die of starvation,” he added, however.

With AP inputs