While experts condemned the Hamas attacks on Israelis as "abhorrent," they also warned that a complete siege on the territory will lead to disastrous shortages of food, water and electricity for millions of civilians.

Representatives from the United Nations to refugee councils have said the latest Israeli siege would be another example of international law being broken by those on both sides of the conflict, which has left hundreds dead and thousands more injured since Saturday.

Experts say a total siege on Gaza will affect access to food, water, electricity, medical supplies and sewage treatment for the territory's 2.3 million residents.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday that authorities would fully cut off supplies to Gaza after Hamas militants launched a stunning attack on Israel Saturday.

The Rafah crossing into Egypt, the sole pathway to leave the territory because the rest of Gaza is surrounded by Israel and the Mediterranean Sea, was closed Tuesday.

The secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, an international aid organization, said the Israeli government's move Monday would spell "utter disaster'' for civilians living in Gaza.

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