Israel accused the United Nations of seeking to “block” Gaza aid distribution, as the global body said it was doing its utmost to gather the limited assistance greenlighted by Israel’s authorities, AFP reports.

“While the UN spreads panic and makes declarations detached from reality, the state of Israel is steadily facilitating the entry of aid into Gaza,” Israel’s United Nations Ambassador Danny Danon told the Security Council.

He said the assistance was entering by trucks — under limited authorisation by Israel at the Kerem Shalom crossing since last week following the blockade — and via a “new distribution mechanism developed in coordination with the US and key international partners.”

He accused the UN of “trying to block” the aid.

The United Nations “is using threats, intimidation and retaliation against NGOs that choose to participate in the new humanitarian mechanism”, Danon added.