Amnesty International has called for an immediate end to the blockade Israel has imposed on the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.

"Israel's latest tightening of its blockade has made an already dire humanitarian situation markedly worse," said Philip Luther, deputy director of the London-based body's Middle East and North Africa program.

"This is nothing short of collective punishment on Gaza's civilian population and it must stop immediately," AFP quoted him as saying.

A statement from Amnesty has also declared in a statement that the current situation is "nothing short of a disaster".

The EU has also urged Israel to open the Gaza crossings so that humanitarian aid could be delivered to the Palestinian people.

The EU declared that Israel's decision to close the Gaza crossing points was “disproportionate.”

MGH/HAR