Hamas has executed six Palestinians in Gaza and shot 13 others in the legs for alleged looting, the militant group said in a statement, as desperation grows under a complete Israeli blockade that has now entered its third month.

Hamas officials accused some of the looters of working in collaboration with Israel, which has sealed off aid from entering Gaza for the past two months. Israel has not commented on the allegation.

The crackdown follows a string of attacks by gangs on food distribution points across Gaza, which remains under an Israeli blockade that has largely prevented the entry of humanitarian aid for nearly