Australia 'appalled' at Gaza deaths, aid blockade

Australia is urging Israel not to stop humanitarian supplies from reaching Gaza's north, as aid groups call for stronger action.

With the Middle East on a knife edge, Australians are also being warned to leave the region.

Save the Children Australia wants the federal government to use all diplomatic and political influence to stop Israel from laying siege to northern Gaza and preventing food, water and aid from entering.

No food has entered Gaza's north since October 1 and it's unclear how much longer supplies will last.

A blockade would hurt 400,000 people, Save the Children says, as the Israel Defence Forces vows to starve out any remaining members of Hamas, which Australia has designated a terrorist organisation.

"The Australian government must state loud and clear that using starvation as a weapon of war is a war crime and that perpetrators have to be held accountable," CEO Mat Tinkler said.

A spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia remains "gravely concerned" about the humanitarian situation in Gaza - and a United Nations report that says the north is being cut off from supplies by Israel.

Blocking humanitarian aid "cannot continue", the spokeswoman said.

"Australia is appalled by the unacceptable deaths of innocent civilians as a result of Israel's operations in Gaza.

"Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price for defeating Hamas."

At least 10 people queuing for food were killed in northern Gaza, according to Palestinian medics, as Israel focuses its offensive on Jabalia, where it says it's trying to stop militants from Hamas from regrouping.

The military said it was targeting terrorists and had put in place an evacuation order for civilians in the north as it aimed to separate Hamas fighters.

But there are fears amongst the civilians that they will never be able to return home if they leave, as well as safety concerns as Israeli air and ground assaults continue.

Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni called for sanctions against Israelis who committed war crimes, saying it was hypocritical for Australia to sanction Iranians on Tuesday as refugee camps burned in Gaza.

"Their inaction sends a clear message, they believe that Palestinian lives don't matter," he said.

The Australian Council for International Development also called for sanctions, after expressing concern about the blockade of humanitarian assistance in northern Gaza.

"We call for targeted sanctions against Israeli officials who obstruct humanitarian aid, as well as IDF personnel responsible for attacks on humanitarian workers," it tol AAP in a statement.

"We also reiterate our calls for targeted sanctions against Israeli officials who advocate for starvation as a weapon of war."

The Jewish Council of Australia also denounced the siege.

"The images emerging of Israel's latest massacres in Gaza ought to force governments like ours to take concrete action," executive officer Max Kaiser said.

The US has also made its concerns clear to Israel, adding Israel had a responsibility to do more to protect civilians.

The number of people killed in Gaza is about 42,000, according to the local health ministry.

Other estimates have the death toll at more than 186,000 when accounting for thousands of people dead and buried under rubble as well as indirect deaths due to starvation and lack of health facilities.

Australians are being warned not to travel to Israel or Occupied Palestinian due to the "volatile security situation, armed conflict, civil unrest and terrorism".

A do not travel warning and leave now edict also remains in place for Lebanon, with the Australian government encouraging people to leave via commercial options after stopping assisted flights due to flailing demand.

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