Death toll of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza rises to 227; more than 60 children killed

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, airstrikes have killed at least 227 Palestinians, including 64 children and 38 mothers, and injured 1,620 others.

The hostilities shuttered six hospitals and nine primary healthcare centers in Gaza. Damage from a nearby airstrike halted COVID-19 testing at the Gaza Central Laboratory, the UN humanitarians reported. A non-governmental organization hospital stopped functioning because of fuel shortages.

Electric power in Gaza dropped, on average, to just three to four hours a day due to feeder line damage, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

The World Food Programme reported giving out electronic vouchers to 74,000 people in Gaza as of Monday. Humanitarian partners were assessing the damage to homes and prioritizing repair support.

The UN refugee agency for Palestinians, known as UNRWA, said it provides for the displaced in designated areas water, sanitation, hygiene services for the displaced and electric generators.

Meanwhile, France drafted the resolution after the U.S. earlier blocked at least four attempts to have the council issue a press statement calling for an end to tensions.
 

A press statement requires agreement by all 15 council members. A resolution only requires at least nine “yes” votes and no veto by the United States or any of the four other permanent members.

A French spokesman had said “very intense discussions” were taking place Wednesday with the U.S. on the proposed resolution.

But the U.S. Mission to the U.N. claimed later “that we will not support actions that we believe undermine efforts to de-escalate.”