GENEVA — World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday warned that Gaza has reached an "awful and grim moment," with food and medical supplies inside the enclave running out while aid trucks remain blocked from entry.

Tedros said on X that food stocks in Gaza have been completely exhausted, despite sufficient supplies being available along aid corridors to feed around one million people.

He also noted that the situation is equally critical for medical supplies, with 16 WHO trucks loaded with vital materials waiting for access but unable to reach those in urgent need.

"This aid blockade must end. Lives depend on it," Tedros emphasized.

The World Food Programme (WFP) also confirmed that its supplies inside Gaza have been depleted, further exacerbating the already dire humanitarian conditions.

Gaza has faced severe restrictions on humanitarian access since hostilities escalated in October 2023. The UN and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly called for unimpeded and sustained aid delivery to civilians trapped in the conflict.

The Israeli army resumed its offensive on Gaza on March 18, ending a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement brokered on January 19.

Since the outbreak of conflict in October 2023, Israeli military operations have killed more than 51,400 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children.

Last November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza.

Additionally, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its ongoing military campaign in the enclave. — Agencies