The Israeli military’s days-long siege of northern Gaza and relentless bombing has deepened the humanitarian crisis in the region, with no food aid entering since the beginning of this month, aid agencies said.

The Israeli military is carrying out a widespread operation in northern Gaza, issuing evacuation orders and blocking food supplies, just weeks after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reported to be mulling a plan to besiege the area to starve Hamas and force it to release hostages.