While both the U.S. and Israel have said they plan to lift restrictions on aid for the West Bank, Israel has blocked all cargo shipments into Gaza where supplies of fuel, food and medicine are running low. Many areas of Gaza have been without electricity since last week’s fighting.

U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator Kevin Kennedy: “What we really need to do as a first step is to resume our full program in Gaza. As you might know, the United Nations feeds nearly one million people a month in Gaza, not their entire ration but very important of their diet, and we have to get these operations back up running in full speed along with the medical clinics, the hospitals and the schools.”

Israel has also blocked Palestinian civilians from leaving Gaza. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat of Fatah dismissed Hamas as a group of gangsters but said the Palestinian people in Gaza need help.

Saeb Erekat: “Gaza has 1.5 million people. These people have suffered more than enough. These people have nothing to do with the coup d’etat and this group of gangsters who are terrorizing them now. These people should not — way of life — these people’s fuel, electricity, water, food, medical supplies should not be undermined. So we appeal to all not to add to the complexities, and to add to the suffering of those 1.5 million Palestinians.”

In other news from the region, two rockets exploded near the Israeli town Kiryat Shmona near the Lebanese border.