Gaza facing humanitarian catastrophe

Oxfam has warned that Gaza faces a humanitarian catastrophe unless Israel's blockade is lifted and urges world leaders to pressure Israel to break the blockade.

"World leaders must step up and exercise all their political might to break the blockade of Gaza," Oxfam's executive director Jeremy Hobbs said.

"As a matter of humanitarian imperative, Israeli leaders must resume supplies into Gaza without further delay. If Israelis and Palestinians alike don't exert every effort now to maintain the truce which has held since last June, the result could be catastrophic for civilians both in Gaza and in nearby Israeli towns," he said.

Hobbs warned that if the international community fails to act decisively it "will only exacerbate human suffering and could further endanger chances for peace."

Oxfam joined the United Nations, European Union and Amnesty International in appealing to Israel to allow in food convoys and to resume supplies of fuel.

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