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UN: Israeli assault on Gaza took severe toll on civilians

NEW YORK, Aug 8 (KUNA) -- The UN stated Monday that the recent escalation in Gaza Strip took a severe toll on the civilian population.
"From 5 through 7 August, 46 Palestinians were killed, including 20 civilians - 15 children and four women. According to Israeli official sources, the strikes killed 21 operatives, mainly affiliated with PIJ," Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, told a special UN Security Council meeting.
He added that the heath authorities in Gaza reported 360 Palestinians injured, including at least 151 children and 58 women.
"At least ten houses were completely destroyed and 48 severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable. According to the Gaza authorities, over 600 housing units were damaged, displacing 84 families," Wennesland stated.
He pointed out that in addition to loss of life, injuries and destruction of property, the complete closure of Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings for six days had severe humanitarian consequences for Palestinians in the Strip.
"Gaza was on the brink of a humanitarian collapse last evening when the ceasefire came into effect," he suggested. He went on to say that there were dire humanitarian consequences and a total breakdown of all normal supply lines and essential services. Basic food, medical supplies, and fuel were unable to enter.
Furthermore, as a result, on 6 August, Gaza's only power plant shut down, causing rolling power cuts of over 20 hours per day and severely impacting the delivery of basic essential services and facilities, such as hospitals and clinics, schools, water desalination and distribution, as well as wastewater treatment.
He affirmed that Gaza's chronic shortages of essential medicines and equipment were exacerbated by the escalation; and, the closure of Erez prevented the daily crossing of some 50 patients requiring specialized treatment in Israel.
"The closures also worsened the already precarious food security situation in the Gaza Strip, reducing stocks of basic foods, particularly wheat flour," he regretted. He welcomed the ceasefire agreement, but warned that "I want to make the Council aware of the following: the ceasefire is fragile. Any resumption of hostilities will only have devastating consequences for Palestinians and Israelis, and make any political progress on key issues elusive".
He stressed that the underlying drivers of this and previous escalations remain.
"These cycles of violence will only cease when we achieve a political resolution of the conflict that brings an end to the occupation and the realization of a two-State solution on the basis of the 1967 lines, in line with UN resolutions, international law and previous agreements," he said. He reiterated a call to the Israeli and Palestinian leadership, along with the international community, to strengthen diplomatic efforts to return to meaningful negotiations towards a viable two-State solution. (end) asf.ibi