Meanwhile, the UN’s top humanitarian official has renewed calls for an end to the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes spoke after touring Gaza on Friday.

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes: “All this makes for a grim human and humanitarian situation here in Gaza, which means that people are not able to live with the basic dignity to which they are entitled. So what is essentially needed is an opening of the crossings, a lot more goods coming in, humanitarian goods, but other goods as well, so that people can start to live more normal and more dignified lives.”