UNITED NATIONS, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Israeli new evacuation orders for northern Gaza Strip alarm UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who also condemns the loss of life from the latest Israeli airstrikes, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

"Civilians must be respected and protected," said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for Guterres.

Calling for the immediate, unconditional release of all hostages, Dujarric said the secretary-general also welcomes the continued efforts by the mediators and reiterates his appeal to reach a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Palestinian medical and security sources said that at least 21 people were killed and dozens more wounded on Monday when an Israeli airstrike hit a beachfront cafe in Gaza City.

Al-Shifa Hospital said in a brief statement that most of the victims were women and children brought to the hospital following the strike.

Palestinian security officials and eyewitnesses told Xinhua that an Israeli aircraft fired at least one missile at the cafe west of the al-Shati refugee camp.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said most of Gaza remains under displacement orders. Israel, as the occupying power, must ensure the protection of civilians wherever they are and wherever they go.

"People are being pushed into overcrowded areas where thousands of others are already staying," OCHA said of Sunday's displacement orders. "These spaces lack shelter, water and sewage systems and medical facilities."

The office said that scores of people were reportedly killed and injured, including while waiting for food, amid ongoing Israeli military operations over the weekend. There were numerous reports of attacks hitting homes, as well as schools hosting displaced people.

The humanitarians said the Israelis instructed Gazans in the areas of Jabalya and Gaza City to go to Al Mawasi, following an earlier displacement order over the weekend for central Gaza. Approximately 150,000 people were in the areas slated for displacement from Sunday's order alone, including families residing in dozens of temporary displacement sites.

OCHA said amid heavy constraints on bringing in supplies and carrying out humanitarian operations across Gaza, people are going hungry.

The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that one in five people face catastrophic hunger, and more than 90,000 women and children urgently require treatment for malnutrition.

The WFP said that 130,000 metric tons of food are positioned in the region and ready to serve people in Gaza if access is granted. Israel must facilitate the access and entry of essential supplies into Gaza through the available crossing points and corridors to address people's desperate needs.

The UN humanitarians and their partners urgently call on the Israeli authorities to allow fuel to enter Gaza.

"This is critically needed for life-saving operations, including hospitals, water and sanitation equipment, telecommunications, moving cargo from crossings, and operating community kitchens," OCHA said. "If the ban on fuel continues, more of these critical services will shut down soon and, in some areas, imminently."

The office said the implications are life-threatening.

OCHA also calls for the entry of critical shelter materials, tents, plastic sheeting, timber and other household items. They have been denied entry for 17 weeks.

The office said the Israeli authorities continue to deny many humanitarian movements.

OCHA said they rejected five out of 15 attempts by the world body to coordinate aid movements, including efforts to remove solid waste and debris and to recover broken trucks. Two other missions were not carried out, either due to impediments or because organizers had to cancel them. The remaining eight missions, including the movement of staff and other missions, were completed.

The office said that its partners working on education report that school-age children continue to miss out on learning. The displacement order issued on Sunday affected more than a dozen temporary learning spaces, hosting 5,000 students and 200 teachers. As most children in Gaza have no access to education, amid displacement orders and extensive damage to schools, the future of the children remains bleak.

Other OCHA partners report an increasing risk of gender-based violence in the past two months. Women are especially affected by incidents where they are denied services and resources while trying to provide for their families.

The office said that in April and May, 45 partners provided psychosocial support, safe shelter and dignity kits to women. However, other critical services, such as legal assistance, remain very limited or unavailable. ■