Hamas has refuted claims Israel has restarted water supplies to southern Gaza.

Israel’s minister of energy and water, Israel Katz, said in a statement that water had been restored at one “specific point” in Gaza, while a spokesman said the location was outside Khan Younis.

But this is not the case, according to Hamas interior ministry Eyad Al-Bozom.

“The residents drink unhealthy water, posing a serious health crisis threatens the lives of the citizens,” he said.

Water has run out at UN shelters across Gaza and aid workers said they had not yet seen evidence the water was back on.

The water shortage is part of a snowballing humanitarian crisis, with UN food, water, medical supplies and fuel all waiting on Gaza’s borders.

Taking into account the humanitarian and hostage crises, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the Middle East as “on the verge of the abyss”.