It comes as the the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the US- and Israeli-backed aid group, said it was unable to distribute assistance to Palestinian civilians, blaming threats by Hamas, which Gaza’s dominant militant group denied.

There was no immediate comment from the Mujahedeen Brigades, who have previously denied killing their captives, or from Hamas. The Israeli military said the Brigades were still holding the body of another foreign national. Only 20 of the 55 remaining hostages are believed to still be alive.

Israeli airstrikes kill 55 in Gaza, medics say

More than one missile landed in the area.

There was no immediate response from the Israeli military or COGAT, the Israeli defence agency that coordinates humanitarian matters with the Palestinians.

It added that it had located several bodies of militants whose identities were “under examination”.

US-backed aid group halts distributions

A Hamas official told the Reuters news agency they had no knowledge of such “alleged threats”.

Palestinians stretch their arms through a metal fence with empty pots and pans, trying to receive food from a charity distribution point in Khan Yunis, Gaza on 5 June. Source: Getty / Anadolu

On Wednesday, the GHF suspended operations and asked the Israeli military to review security protocols after Palestinian hospital officials said more than 80 people had been shot dead and hundreds wounded near distribution points between 1 and 3 June.