In a statement on Telegram, Gaza’s civil defence body says 60 per cent of its vehicles are inoperable; a situation caused by the lack of sufficient fuel and maintenance parts needed to repair vehicles, Al Jazeera reports.

It said: “We were able to secure a small amount of fuel from some humanitarian and relief organisations, amounting to no more than 15pc of the daily professional requirement.”

“We are now merging our response to some daily tasks that do not pose a direct threat to citizens’ lives, while postponing some tasks,” the statement also said, calling the situation “a major humanitarian disaster”.