Since Israel began a renewed military offensive in northern Gaza 12 days ago, humanitarian groups say that virtually no aid has entered the area. Israel's own statistics show that aid deliveries to Gaza as a whole have collapsed when compared with the same period in September.

Israeli troops have fired on U.N. aid convoys to Gaza four times in three months, damaging vehicles and narrowly missing staff.

Israel said an operation in Gaza may have killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, part of a renewed assault against the militant group after more than a year of war in the Palestinian territory.