UNITED NATIONS, July 3 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is appalled by the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and condemns the killing of civilians, his spokesman said Thursday.

Multiple attacks in recent days hitting sites hosting displaced people and those trying to access food have killed and injured scores of Palestinians. The secretary-general strongly condemns the loss of civilian life, said spokesman Stephane Dujarric in a statement.

In just one day this week, relocation orders from the Israeli authorities forced nearly 30,000 people to flee, yet again, with no safe place to go and with inadequate supplies of shelter, food, medicine or water, noted the spokesman. "International humanitarian law is unambiguous: civilians must be respected and protected, and the needs of the population must be met," Dujarric said.

With no fuel having entered Gaza in more than 17 weeks, the secretary-general is gravely concerned that the last lifelines for survival are being cut off. Without an urgent influx of fuel, incubators will shut down, ambulances will be unable to reach the injured and sick, and water can not be purified. The very limited humanitarian operations by the United Nations and partners will also grind to a halt, said the spokesman.

Guterres once again calls for full, safe and sustained humanitarian access, so aid can reach people who have been deprived of the basics of life for far too long, the spokesman expressed. "The UN has a clear and proven plan, rooted in the humanitarian principles, to get vital assistance to civilians -- safely and at scale, wherever they are."

Guterres asks all parties to uphold their obligations under international law and renews his call for an immediate permanent ceasefire and for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, said the spokesman. ■