The United Nations' aid chief welcomed Israel's announcement Sunday of secure land routes into Gaza for humanitarian convoys, and said the UN would try to reach as many starving people as possible.

For months, the U.N. and experts have warned that Palestinians in Gaza are at risk of famine, with reports of increasing numbers of people dying from causes related to malnutrition.

Asharq Al Awsat United Nations teams will step up efforts to feed Palestinians in Gaza during pauses in designated areas announced on Sunday by Israel, UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said. "In contact with our teams on the ground who will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window,

Twenty-five countries have released a statement calling for the immediate end of the war in Gaza and accusing Israel of not allowing sufficient aid in.

Rev. Johnnie Moore, who leads the beleaguered U.S. and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, said Gaza Palestinians are starving, but the blame lies with Hamas, the United Nations and other aid organizations.

The foreign ministers of 25 Western nations have slammed Israel for “drip feeding” aid into the Gaza Strip, as the health ministry in the territory said that more than 1,000 people have been killed seeking humanitarian relief there since late May.

Children in Gaza are enduring catastrophic living conditions, including severe food insecurity and malnutrition. UNICEF is calling for safe and unrestricted access.

The United Nations Security Council approved a resolution Friday seeking "urgent steps" to expand aid in Gaza, but could not secure the unanimous support needed to call for an immediate cease-fire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump appeared on Friday to abandon Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, both claiming it had become clear that the Palestinian militants did not want a deal.