Board of Peace says Israel's aid response after Gaza floods 'insufficent'

In rare criticism of Israel, the Board of Peace said it had been urging the Israeli government to authorise the entry of essential goods for temporary shelter and water and sanitation infrastructure.

The Board added that delays in approving the entry of supplies "exacerbated the consequences of a foreseeable humanitarian challenge" and delayed the start of decommissioning weapons and transferring Hamas authority to a transitional government.

It also said Hamas's failure to disarm and transfer power had compounded the difficulties facing Gaza's civilians.

The UN's humanitarian agency OCHA said more than 150,000 tents were outside Gaza ready to go in, but aid efforts were constrained "by Israeli restrictions on the entry of supplies and equipment and funding shortfalls".