THE Israelis massacred another 22 Palestinians in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya, Palestinian officials said today.

Aid agencies continue to raise the alarm about the deepening humanitarian crisis facing northern Gaza.

The Gaza Health Ministry's emergency service said that 11 women and two children were among the 22 killed in Saturday’s attack on several homes and residential buildings.

It said another 15 people were wounded and that the death toll could rise. It listed the names of those killed, who mostly came from three families.

The Israeli military claims that it carried out a precise strike on fighters in a structure in Beit Lahiya and took steps to avoid harming civilians. 

Aid groups have warned of a catastrophic situation in northern Gaza. 

Israel has severely limited the entry of basic humanitarian aid in recent weeks, and the three remaining hospitals in the north — one of which was raided over the weekend — say they have been overwhelmed by waves of wounded people.

The International Committee of the Red Cross on Saturday described the situation in the area as "horrific."

"Many civilians are currently unable to move, trapped by fighting, destruction or physical constraint and now lack access to even basic medical care," it said.

UN acting undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief co-ordinator Joyce Msuya warned that “the entire population of north Gaza is at risk of dying.”

She said: “What Israeli forces are doing in besieged north Gaza cannot be allowed to continue.

“Hospitals have been hit and health workers have been detained. Shelters have been emptied and burned down. First responders have been prevented from rescuing people from under the rubble. Families have been separated and men and boys are being taken away by the truckload.

“Hundreds of Palestinians have reportedly been forced to flee yet again.”

Ms Msuya added: “Such blatant disregard for basic humanity and for the laws of war must stop.”

In a separate development, a truck rammed into a bus stop in the city of Ramat Hasharon, north east of Tel Aviv, killing at least one person and wounding 35 others. 

Israeli police described the assailant as an Arab citizen of Israel. 

The ramming occurred near the headquarters of Israel’s Mossad spy agency.

Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service said six of the wounded were in serious condition.

Israeli police spokesperson Asi Aharoni told reporters that the attacker had been “neutralised,” without saying if they were dead.