Australia has called for humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza and for a ceasefire to continue as Israel blocks supplies.
The first phase of a ceasefire deal between Israel and designated terror group Hamas resulted in 25 hostages being freed and eight bodies returned in exchange for the release of about 1900 Palestinian prisoners.
It also resulted in additional humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza after Israel was accused by international humanitarian and human rights groups of consistently stymying supplies into the besieged strip.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suspended aid from entering Gaza on Sunday, a day after the first phase of the ceasefire expired and no agreement for a second stage was reached.
Australia has since reaffirmed its commitment to a ceasefire, the release of remaining hostages and increased humanitarian assistance.
"Australia has consistently been part of the international call for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and delivery of assistance to meet humanitarian need in Gaza," a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Penny Wong told AAP.
"We are continuing these calls, including for implementation of the ceasefire and hostage deal in full, and for parties to work towards a lasting peace and stability in the region."
Israel had an obligation to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza as an occupying power "especially as there is very limited capacity for those living in Gaza to grow crops for their own food," international law expert Professor Don Rothwell told AAP.
The blocking of support and aid, especially food, contravened the fourth Geneva Convention which "can be a war crime and a crime against humanity," he said.
This would fall to the International Criminal Court, which has put out warrants for Mr Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant after finding reasonable grounds they bore responsibility for war crimes including using starvation as a method of warfare.
Warrants were also issued for Hamas commanders but were withdrawn after reports of their deaths.
Israel believes 59 hostages remain in Gaza but only 24 are alive.
Mr Netanyahu warned of “unimaginable consequences”, without elaborating, if remaining hostages weren't returned.
Israel has offered an extension of the temporary ceasefire into April in exchange for more hostages being freed but Hamas wants a permanent withdrawal of Israeli troops and an end to the war.
More than 300 aid trucks were blocked from crossing into Gaza from Egypt on Sunday, according to the Red Cross, which said supplies in the strip were running out.
Amnesty International Australia said the aid embargo exacerbated "the catastrophic conditions for Palestinians already enduring genocide and mass starvation".
Aid deliveries being stopped would "quickly lead to devastating consequences for children and families who are struggling to survive," UNICEF said in a statement.
Israel has denied allegations of a genocide and rejected the warrants from the ICC, to which it isn't a signatory.
Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1200 people and taking some 250 people hostage, according to Israel's tallies.
More than 48,000 people have been killed during Israel's counteroffensive, according to Gazan health authorities, and most of the 2.3 million-strong population displaced.
