Josep Borrell: Starvation Being Used as Weapon of War in Gaza

The lack of aid entering Gaza has been described by the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, as a "manmade" disaster.

In his address to the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday, Borrell said the humanitarian crisis in the territory resulted from a lack of viable transportation routes.

"We are now facing a population fighting for their own survival," he said.

"Humanitarian assistance needs to get into Gaza, and the European Union is working as much as we can in order to make it possible.

"[The humanitarian crisis is] manmade and when we look for alternative ways of providing support by sea, by air, we have to remind [ourselves] that we have to do it because the natural way of providing support through roads is being... artificially closed. Starvation is being used as a war arm and when we condemned this happening in Ukraine, we have to use the same words for what is happening in Gaza."

Borrell's remarks come after the UN warned at least 576,000 people in Gaza - one quarter of the population - were one step away from famine.

A Spanish ship carrying much-needed food supplies has lately left Cyprus to assist Gaza, but the UN has stated that this cannot replace the delivery of aid by land. 

Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has vowed to continue with an offensive in southern Gaza.

Aid agencies have stated that the quickest and most efficient way to get aid into Gaza is by road, but Israeli restrictions are preventing the majority of aid from getting through. As a result, attention has been focused on alternative routes, including sea and air drops. However, Israel has noted that it is not responsible for Gaza's food shortages, as aid is permitted through two crossings in the south.