Amid growing global outrage, Israel has loosened restrictions on food distribution in Gaza to address rising starvation.

World aid groups have criticized Israel for the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel has denied the accusations.

The IDF admits there is a dangerous food situation in Gaza, even if short of the claimed mass starvation, and an awful public relations situation there. It’s easy for the pro-Israel crowd to cry foul about global media accusations of mass starvation in Gaza – being made knowingly or naively in the service of Hamas – given that there is a dangerous food shortage,

Israel has long restricted aid to Gaza on the argument that Hamas steals it to use as a weapon of control over the population. On Saturday, the Israeli military announced new airdrops of aid.

While the international community criticizes the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a middle east expert says the U.S.- and Israel-backed organization is taking the power away from Hamas.

In June, a yacht with 12 activists on board - including Sweden's Greta Thunberg - was intercepted by the Israeli military about 185km (115 miles) west of Gaza. That expedition, also organised by the FFC, had been aiming to deliver aid to Gaza in defiance of Israel's blockade and to highlight the humanitarian crisis there.

Facing growing international condemnation over Palestinians starving to death in Gaza, Israel’s military is making a series of moves that it says will allow more aid into the enclave. Follow for live updates.