The head of the United Nations says Israel's military activity in Gaza is creating "massive obstacles" for aid distribution in the enclave.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that measuring the success of the aid operation to Gaza through the number of trucks entering the enclave is a mistake.
"The real problem is that the way Israel is conducting this offensive is creating massive obstacles to the distribution of humanitarian aid inside Gaza," Guterres said, pointing to continued "intense Israeli bombardment" and ground operations.
The UN chief said these actions show there has been "no significant change" in how Israel is operating in the enclave and that there is also "no effective protection of civilians."
According to Guterres, who was speaking at his end-of-year address to journalists in New York on Friday, an effective aid operation in Gaza would require adequate security, staffing, logistical capacity and the resumption of commercial activity.
Honing in on the logistical challenges facing the aid operation, Guterres said the UN has an insufficient number of trucks in Gaza. He said Israel's refusal to allow any additional trucks to operate there is "massively hampering the aid operation."
He also called the resumption of commercial activity in Gaza an "essential" priority.
"Wallets are empty, stomachs are empty," he said.
Guterres said he hoped the UN Security Council resolution passed Friday would help to alleviate the "ongoing nightmare" people in Gaza are experiencing but ultimately stressed that "much more is needed immediately," calling once more for a humanitarian ceasefire.