The military conflict between Israel and
the Hamas-led Gaza Strip has killed 108
Palestinians and three Israelis in the past month,
the United Nations said Wednesday in summing
up the explosive situation that has exacerbated
a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The UN said the Palestinians continued to endure
power and water cuts by Israel, but failed to
protest an Israeli Supreme Court decision
Wednesday that said the reductions of fuel
and electricity supply to Gaza declared by
the government in September were legal.
B Lynn Pascoe, UN undersecretary general
for political affairs, said UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon had 'noted with
concern' the Israeli decision to impose
the sanctions on the 1.4 million Palestinians
in Gaza who 'should not be punished for
the unacceptable actions of the militants
and extremists.'
Pascoe briefed the UN Security Council on
developments in the Middle East in the past
month, saying the military activities on both
sides also injured 229 Palestinians
and 24 Israelis.
Pascoe said the levels of violence had abated
significantly in the last week, despite
Palestinian militants firing 77 rockets and
mortars into southern Israel and the Israeli
Defence Forces launching four incursions
and airstrikes into Gaza.
The 15-nation council on Tuesday shelved a
proposed statement that would have condemned
the violence because of deep disagreement
among its members.
Arab diplomats blamed the United States for the
council's failure to take a stand on Gaza.
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