Eleven trucks of food, water and medical aid have entered the besieged areas of Jabalia and Beit Hanoun in North Gaza, 40 days since the last food and water was allowed to enter the areas under evacuation orders, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Palestinian officials have not yet confirmed the delivery.

The Kissufim crossing was reopened for the first time since Israel's 2005 departure from the Gaza strip, the IDF announced. This has been a key demand of the United Nations and humanitarian aid groups, as the crossing sits between Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, and allows for a shorter driving time to reach the areas where most people are sheltering.

These announcements come as the U.S. State Department's 30 day deadline for improving the humanitarian aid situation in Gaza approaches. Last week, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller noted that Israel had not met the benchmarks -- outlined in a letter sent to Israeli officials -- to the State Department's satisfaction yet.

One key issue he pointed to was setting up a new channel with Israel where the U.S. could raise and discuss civilian harm incidents. This channel has not yet been established but that he hopes a first meeting can be set up "in a week or two," Miller said.

The Israel Defense Forces conducted a raid at the Shuhaybar School in northern Gaza's Al-Shati refugee camp on Thursday killing at least 30 people. The school houses displaced people.

The IDF has not yet commented on the raid.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

Five United Nations peacekeepers were injured on Thursday after a convoy headed for south Lebanon was badly damaged by an Israeli strike.

"Five peacekeepers were lightly injured and treated by the Lebanese Red Cross on the spot. They will continue to their posts. The Lebanese Army also confirmed three of its soldiers at the nearby checkpoint were injured. We remind all actors of their obligation to avoid actions putting peacekeepers or civilians in danger. Differences should be resolved at the negotiating table, not through violence," UNIFIL said in a statement.

The Israel Defense Forces on Thursday denied reports that its troops are forcing Palestinians out of their homes in north Gaza with the intention of permanently blocking their return.

"The statement attributed to the IDF in the past 24 hours, claiming that residents of northern Gaza will not be allowed to return to their homes, is incorrect and does not reflect the IDF's objectives," it said in a statement to ABC News.

"Contrary to reports, the IDF will continue to allow humanitarian aid into northern Gaza and is also permitting aid to enter the Jabalia area," they added.

The IDF statement was in response to a Wednesday report by The Guardian newspaper -- attributed to an IDF briefing seen in Israel's Kan News -- that IDF Brig. Gen. Itzik Cohen told Israeli reporters that since troops had been forced to enter some areas of northern Gaza twice, such as Jabalia camp, "there is no intention of allowing the residents of the northern Gaza Strip to return to their homes."

Cohen is alleged to have added that no humanitarian aid would be allowed to enter northern areas because there are "no more civilians left."

An Israeli admission of intentional permanent displacement of Palestinians and the use of food as a weapon would be highly significant. Palestinian officials and NGOs have accused the IDF of both measures throughout the war in Gaza.

"The IDF is operating in the Jabalia area to target Hamas infrastructure in the region, engaging in intense combat during which many terrorists are being eliminated, and Hamas's military infrastructure, both above and below ground, is being destroyed," the IDF said in its Thursday statement.

-ABC News' Guy Davies