GENEVA - THE UN expert on human rights in the Palestinian territories said on Tuesday Israel's policies against their people amounted to a 'crime against humanity.'

In a statement, Richard Falk called on the United Nations to make an 'urgent effort' to 'implement the agreed norm of a responsibility to protect' a civilian population being collectively punished by policies that amount to a Crime Against Humanity.'

He went on: 'In a similar vein, it would seem mandatory for the International Criminal Court to investigate the situation, and determine whether the Israeli civilian leaders and military commanders responsible for the Gaza siege should be indicted and prosecuted for violations of international criminal law.'

Mr Falk said that 'such a flurry of denunciations by normally cautious UN officials has not occurred on a global level since the heyday of South African apartheid', continuing: 'And still Israel maintains its Gaza siege in its full fury, allowing only barely enough food and fuel to enter to stave off mass famine and disease.'

Israel allowed dozens of trucks filled with humanitarian supplies into the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, the fifth such shipment permitted to enter the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory in the past month.

The military also allowed in diesel fuel for Gaza's sole power plant and for the UN refugee agency, which provides aid to hundreds of thousands of Gazans.

Israel has sealed off the territory from all but limited aid since the Islamist Hamas movement - which is pledged to the destruction of the Jewish state - seized power in Gaza in June 2007.

Israel also opened Gaza to foreign journalists for the second time in a month.

After a surge in violence on Nov 4, Israel tightened the blockade and has said it can not open the crossings because of the danger to its staff at the terminals from mortar and rocket fire by Gaza militants. -- AFP