Israel has accused UN experts of repeating Hamas propaganda about the situation in Gaza, something it called "deplorable".

Seven UN-mandated human rights experts said they believed civilians in Gaza were at grave risk of "genocide" and that time was running out to prevent this.

The group of special rapporteurs alleged that Israel was planning to "decimate" the Gaza Strip and it called on Israel and its allies to agree to an immediate ceasefire, and on Hamas and other militants to release all captive civilians.

"The situation in Gaza has reached a catastrophic tipping point,” they said, according to a statement by the UN Office of the High Commissioner.

Asked about the statement at a press briefing, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said a determination of genocide could only be made by a relevant UN judicial body, according to the Reuters news agency.

Israel also accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields and diverting aid for terrorist operations.

"The current war was brought upon Israel by Hamas terrorists who committed a massacre on October 7, butchering 1,400 people and kidnapping 243 children, men and women," the Israeli mission to the UN in Geneva said.