UN official says scaled-up aid deliveries to Gaza to begin Sunday

Israel has given the green light to the United Nations to begin delivering aid into Gaza on Sunday, according to The Associated Press.

A UN official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the aid includes 170,000 metric tons already positioned in neighbouring countries such as Jordan and Egypt. Humanitarian officials are awaiting permission from Israeli forces to restart their work, he said.

The report came after the UN children's charity, Unicef, called on Friday for all crossings for food aid into Gaza to be opened, saying children in the territory were especially vulnerable because they have gone without proper food for long periods.

"The situation is critical. We risk seeing a massive spike in child death, not only neonatal, but also infants, given their immune systems are more compromised than ever before," said Unicef spokesperson Ricardo Pires.