Israel’s war cabinet has allowed the delivery of two tankers of diesel fuel daily to the embattled Gaza Strip, Israeli officials said, as hospitals and aid schemes shut down over energy shortages, AFP reports.

Israel has come under increasing international pressure as the United Nations warned this week its aid work in the Palestinian territory was grinding to a halt as fuel reserves ran dry.

In response to a US request, the Israeli war cabinet unanimously approved “the entry of two diesel fuel tankers per day for the needs of the UN to support water and sewer infrastructure … provided that it does not reach Hamas”, Israeli officials said in a statement.

“This action allows Israel the continued international manoeuvring space necessary to eliminate Hamas,” the statement added.