At a United Nations press briefing, the U.N. spokesperson said the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion "emphasized the obligation of Israel to allow and facilitate humanitarian relief schemes by the United Nations, including by UNRWA" for as long as Gaza remains "inadequately supplied." The spokesperson said some recent progress has allowed more aid into Gaza, but that "much more needs to be done."

The spokesperson said the U.N. and partners have scaled up response efforts in central and southern Gaza since the ceasefire. He reported more than "425,000 movements" from southern to northern parts of the Strip since Oct. 10 and said partners visited displacement sites and schools sheltering displaced people in northern Gaza where "more than 200 families urgently need food, water, latrines, bedding kits, and hygiene items."

The U.N. spokesman detailed deliveries: "On Monday, at least 145 U.N.-coordinated trucks, carrying nearly 1,500 metric tons of aid were collected from the Kerem Shalom, Kerem Abu Salim and Kisufim crossings." He added that nearly three-quarters of that aid was food and that the U.N. and partners also collected shelter materials, animal feed, health supplies and water, sanitation and hygiene items.

At the same briefing reporters asked whether U.S. and Israeli statements that more aid is now getting in reflect the U.N.'s view. The spokesperson said: "I just told you that there is more aid going in, but right now ... only two crossing points, Kisufim and Kerem Abu Salim, are open right now. We need to have more crossing points open. We need to get more aid in."

Reporters raised concerns about aid being blocked: the spokesperson said that of 10 humanitarian missions coordinated with Israeli authorities, six were facilitated and four were not, and he referred questions about reasons for rejection to Israeli authorities. He also reiterated that UNRWA remains "the backbone of our humanitarian operations" in Gaza and that the agency continues to operate despite allegations of individual misconduct that the U.N. said it has investigated and, where substantiated, acted on.

The U.N. spokesperson emphasized that the ICJ opinion is "decisive" for addressing Gaza's humanitarian crisis and said the U.N. expects cooperation to allow and facilitate U.N. and impartial actors to deliver relief.

Less-critical details: the spokesman said some crossings remain closed, the Rafah crossing should be opened, and that the recent ceasefire must hold longer than previous ceasefires to permit sustained deliveries and system repair.