The UN was forced to stop deliveries of food and other necessities to Gaza on Friday and warned of the growing risk of widespread starvation after internet and telephone services collapsed in the besieged enclave because of lack of fuel.

Israel has announced that it will allow two tanker trucks of fuel into the territory each day for the UN and communication systems. But that is half the amount the UN says it needs for lifesaving functions for hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza.