Rafah (Gaza Strip), Dec 22: The Palestinian death toll in Gaza surpassed 20,000, health officials said Friday, the latest indication of the staggering cost of the war as Israel expanded its ground offensive and ordered tens of thousands more people to leave their homes.
The deaths, amounting to nearly 1 per cent of the territory’s pre-war population, are just one measure of the devastation wrought by the conflict that over 11 weeks has displaced nearly 85 per cent of Gaza’s people and levelled wide swaths of the tiny coastal enclave.
More than half a million people in Gaza – a quarter of the population – are starving, according to a report Thursday from the United Nations and other agencies describing the crisis caused by Israel’s bombardment and siege on the territory in response to Hamas’ October 7 attack.
Despite the emergency, a UN Security Council vote on aid deliveries and terms for a cease-fire was delayed again late Thursday, after days of high-level negotiations.
The United States, which has veto power, has pushed back against calls for an immediate cease-fire and giving the UN sole responsibility for inspecting aid deliveries. Israel, citing security grounds, insists it needs to be able to screen goods entering Gaza.
The US said it would back a revised resolution that calls for “creating the conditions” for a cease-fire, rather than an immediate end to fighting. Other countries support a stronger text and said diplomats would need to consult their governments before a vote, which is expected later on Friday.
Martin Griffiths, the UN humanitarian affairs chief, lamented the world’s inaction. “That such a brutal conflict has been allowed to continue and for this long – despite the widespread condemnation, the physical and mental toll and the massive destruction – is an indelible stain on our collective conscience,” he wrote in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Israel announces death
of kidnapped hostage
The Israeli community of Kibbutz Nir Oz on Friday announced the death of a 73-year-old resident of their community who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 during the attack.
The community has identified the deceased hostage as Gadi Haggai (73). However, they did not reveal the cause of death or how they received the information. “Haggai’s body still remains in the hands of Hamas,” the community said. Haggai was father of four children and grandfather to seven. His wife Judith is also in captivity of Hamas and is believed to be injured during the October 7 attack. (Agencies)
