Saudi Arabia and France on Tuesday called on countries at the United Nations to support a declaration that outlines "tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps" towards implementing a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

The president has in recent days acknowledged there is “starvation” in Gaza, a break with Israeli officials who have faced deep criticism over the humanitarian crisis there.

Britain said on Tuesday it would recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel takes steps to relieve suffering in Gaza, where starvation is spreading, and reaches a ceasefire in the nearly two-year war with Hamas.

The United Nations food aid agency needs quick approvals by Israel for its trucks to move into Gaza if it is to take advantage of Israel's planned humanitarian pauses in fighting, a senior World Food Programme official said on Sunday.

Operations in parts of the enclave were put on hold to allow more aid. It was unclear if the move would relieve the hunger crisis, amid rising deaths from starvation.

More than 38 Palestinians were killed in strikes from late Saturday into Sunday, including 23 people seeking aid, Gaza health officials say