Palestinians line up for food during the ongoing Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah on Nov 13, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

GAZA/TUNIS - The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced Monday the suspension of its humanitarian operations in Gaza within 48 hours.

In a statement on the social media platform X, Thomas White, UNRWA operative director in Gaza, said the agency's humanitarian operations would be suspended within 48 hours as a result of the running out of fuel.

Mentioning that "over the past three weeks, after close coordination with the Israeli government, UNRWA managed to access a large tank of fuel in Gaza on the border with Egypt," an official said, complaining, "But this tank is now empty"

"This morning, two of our main water distribution contractors stopped working -- they simply ran out of fuel," said the UN official, noting that 200,000 people would be deprived of drinking water.

Mentioning that "over the past three weeks, after close coordination with the Israeli government, UNRWA managed to access a large tank of fuel in Gaza on the border with Egypt," the official said, complaining, "But this tank is now empty."

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Also on Monday, Tunisia sent the second plane loaded with 13 tons of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, reported the Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP).

The plane took off from the Tunis-Carthage International Airport in the capital Tunis to El-Arish International Airport in North Sinai, an Egyptian province bordering Gaza, the report said.

"The humanitarian aid included medical equipment, medicines, prepared meals, wheelchairs, blankets as well as food products, such as baby formula," TAP quoted Tunisian Red Crescent President Abdellatif Chabou as saying.

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Tunisia sent the first plane on Oct 15, loaded with about 12 tons of humanitarian and medical aid to the people of the enclave.

Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct 7, firing thousands of rockets and infiltrating Israeli territory, to which Israel responded with massive airstrikes, ground operations, and punitive measures, including a siege on the Gaza Strip with supplies of water, electricity, fuel, and other necessities being cut off.