Israel must ensure the basic needs of the Palestinian population in Gaza are met throughout the current crisis there, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Thursday.
The Geneva-based ICRC warned that water and fuel had become a major concern in the largely sealed-off Gaza Strip, with only a few humanitarian agencies able to take in supplies.
It said Israel needed to ensure food, water, health care and shelter for the 1.4 million residents of Gaza, where dozens have died since Israeli forces moved in to force militants to free a captured soldier and halt cross-border rocket fire.
"Under international humanitarian law, Israel must allow free passage of food, medical supplies and other humanitarian relief," the ICRC said in a statement.
Power infrastructure was among the early targets of Israeli air strikes on the occupied Palestinian territory, from which Israel withdrew settlements last year.
The ICRC said rotating power outages are now occurring in Gaza City, where power is supplied from six to 12 hours per day in each area. Water pumps and hospitals rely on fuel-driven generators and electricity partly provided by Israel.
While no acute shortages of water, or fuel to run pumps, have been reported, the ICRC said, stocks could quickly dwindle or vanish if humanitarian organisations are blocked from bringing supplies into Gaza.
"The situation remains precarious," it said. Addressing the militants detaining 19-year-old Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, the ICRC said they must treat him humanely and respect his life and dignity, as required by international humanitarian law.