As heavy Israeli bombardments continued to hit the Palestinian enclave, dozens of the United Nations’ rights experts have said Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip “amounts to collective punishment”, according to Reuters.

The statement comes after Israel imposed a “total siege” to stop food and fuel from reaching the enclave of 2.3 million people, many poor and dependent on aid in response to a surprise Hamas offensive on Saturday that left 1,300 Israelis dead, according to officials.