A group of UN and non-government organisations working together to coordinate humanitarian assistance to Gaza has issued a statement rejecting Israel’s plan to sidestep humanitarian organisations after it blocked all goods from entering Gaza for 64 days, Al Jazeera reports.

“Israeli officials have sought to shut down the existing aid distribution system run by the United Nations and its humanitarian partners and have us agree to deliver supplies through Israeli hubs under conditions set by the Israeli military, once the government agrees to re-open crossings,” The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) said in a statement.

“The UN Secretary-General and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator have made clear that we will not participate in any scheme that does not adhere to the global humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality,” the statement added.

The humanitarian organisations said that their teams “remain in Gaza, ready to again scale up the delivery of critical supplies and services: food, water, health, nutrition, protection and more”.

They urged world leaders to use their influence to lift the blockade so that “significant stocks” waiting at the border could be delivered.