UN CALLS FOR $2.8 BILLION TO ASSIST 3 MILLION PALESTINIANS IN NEED OF FOOD AND AID

The Israeli offensive in Gaza aimed at destroying Hamas has caused widespread devastation and killed over 33,800 people, according to local health officials.

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On Tuesday, the United Nations appealed for 2.8 billion dollars to provide desperately needed aid to 3 million Palestinians, stressing that tackling looming famine in war-torn Gaza requires not only food but sanitation, water and health facilities.

Andrea De Domenico, the head of the UN humanitarian office for Gaza and the West Bank, told reporters that massive operations are required to restore those services and meet minimum standards and this can't be done during military operations.

He pointed to the destruction of hospitals, water and sanitation facilities, homes, roads and schools, adding that there is not a single university that is standing in Gaza.

De Domenico said Israel's recently-ended second major military operation at Shifa Hospital, Gaza's largest medical facility, was so

destructive the facility has been forced to shut down.

As an example, he questioned what the military objective was in shooting an MRI scanner that examines parts of the body and can detect cancers.