A coalition of British aid and human rights groups says the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is the worst since Israel first occupied the territory more than 40 years ago.

The U.N. Security Council says it is deeply concerned about the loss of civilian life in southern Israel and Gaza.

At least six Palestinian gunmen were killed and a dozen wounded in Israeli air strikes and troops clashes in Gaza, Palestinian radio said Friday.

Israeli forces pulled out of the Gaza Strip Friday after one of the deadliest days of fighting there since Hamas militants seized control of the territory in mid-June.

The European Union has allocated 30 million euros ($40.2 million) for humanitarian aid to violence-torn Gaza, the 27-nation bloc's executive body said Wednesday.

Sixty-nine Russians, seven Belarusians, and 91 Ukrainians were evacuated from the Gaza Strip via Israel Wednesday.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he is "deeply concerned" at the resurgence of violence in Gaza, which has reportedly killed 20 people.