CAIRO (Reuters) - Fighters from Hamas and other Gaza factions have formed an armed force to prevent gangs pillaging aid convoys in the embattled territory, residents and sources close to the group said, after a big increase in the looting of scarce supplies.

Nearly a hundred aid trucks were looted in southern Gaza on Saturday in what the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has described as “one of the worst” incidents of its kind.

A convoy of more than 100 UN aid lorries carrying food was violently looted in Gaza on Saturday, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) says. Ninety-seven lorries were lost and their drivers were forced at gunpoint to unload their aid after passing through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing with southern Gaza,

Israeli forces are storming across north Gaza, killing people in front of their families or as they look for food.

Israel said its forces hit targets in Beit Lahia to prevent Hamas from regrouping.