The UN's humanitarian chief, John Holmes, has described Israel's blockade of Gaza as "inflammatory" and devastating, and says the world wants it to end.
Mr Holmes, the UN's Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, in Canberra for meetings, said the question now was whether Israel would listen to the world.
Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory of Gaza has been thrown into the spotlight after an aid flotilla tried to break through and deliver supplies last week.
Nine people died when Israeli forces boarded the flotilla and where five Australians onboard were taken into detention.
Mr Holmes told AAP it was "extremely distressing" when people died while trying to act on a humanitarian issue.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
He described the Gaza blockade as "an extra inflammatory aspect of the middle east crisis".
"The effects it's having on the population of Gaza .... is devastating. "There is a bit of a tinderbox there."
Mr Holmes said there was now an international consensus - including the US - that the blockade should be lifted.
Australia has formally expressed concern and called for restrictions to be eased.
Mr Holmes said the way forward was for Israel to accept that it must ease the border restrictions. "We cannot make Israel do that ... we have to persuade Israel that it's in her interest".
Mr Holmes was not necessarily confident this would happen, but said the flotilla incident provided an opportunity for change.
Israel says the blockade prevents weapons getting through to Hamas, which governs Gaza.
Mr Holmes said if the blockade was lifted there could be an international inspection regime to keep weapons out.
The UN chief is in Australia for an annual meeting of donors to the UN's humanitarian programs.
Mr Holmes praised Australia for increasing its foreign aid budget. Australia is well short of its target of raising aid spending to 0.5 per cent of national income by 2015, but spending is increasing.
Mr Holmes said he would always welcome more money, but Australia was heading in the right direction and was a generous donor.
