UN Says War Took Toll on Gaza Clean Water Access

A picture shows a street in Gaza City's Rimal area that was bombed by an Israeli air strike. (File/AFP)
A picture shows a street in Gaza City's Rimal area that was bombed by an Israeli air strike. (File/AFP)
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UN Says War Took Toll on Gaza Clean Water Access

A picture shows a street in Gaza City's Rimal area that was bombed by an Israeli air strike. (File/AFP)
A picture shows a street in Gaza City's Rimal area that was bombed by an Israeli air strike. (File/AFP)

The United Nations says approximately 800,000 people in Gaza do not have regular access to clean piped water, as nearly 50 percent of the water network was damaged in the recent fighting.

Quoting Gaza’s public works and housing ministry, the UN ‘s office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said nearly 17,000 residential and commercial units have been damaged or destroyed in the 11-day campaign.

These include 769 housing and commercial units that have been rendered uninhabitable, at least 1,042 units in some 258 buildings which have been destroyed and another 14,538 units that have suffered minor damage, according to The Associated Press.

A cease-fire took effect Friday after an 11-day campaign that left more than 250 dead — the vast majority Palestinians — and brought widespread devastation to the already impoverished Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

The UN said 53 education facilities, six hospitals and 11 primary health care centers have been damaged since May 10.

One health center was severely damaged, the UN said, while one hospital is not operational because of lack of electricity. Schools in Gaza remain closed, affecting almost 600,000 children.



Israel-Hamas War Cease-fire, Hostage Talks to Continue at Lower Levels to Bridge Gaps

Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital, Deir Al-Balah, August 25, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed Purchase Licensing Rights
Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital, Deir Al-Balah, August 25, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed Purchase Licensing Rights
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Israel-Hamas War Cease-fire, Hostage Talks to Continue at Lower Levels to Bridge Gaps

Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital, Deir Al-Balah, August 25, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed Purchase Licensing Rights
Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital, Deir Al-Balah, August 25, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed Purchase Licensing Rights

A round of high-level talks in Cairo meant to bring about a cease-fire and hostage deal to at least temporarily end the 10-month Israel-Hamas war in Gaza ended Sunday without a final agreement, a US official said. But talks will continue at lower levels in the coming days in an effort to bridge remaining gaps.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the talks, said lower level “working teams” will remain in Cairo to meet with mediators the United States, Qatar, and Egypt in hopes to addressing remaining disagreements. The official called the recent conversations, which began Thursday in Cairo and continued through Sunday, as “constructive” and said all parties were working to “reach a final and implementable agreement.”

The talks included CIA director William Burns and David Barnea, the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. A Hamas delegation was briefed by Egyptian and Qatari mediators but did not directly take part in negotiations.

The talks in Cairo on Sunday aimed at bridging gaps in a proposal for a truce and the release of scores of hostages held by Hamas.

 

There has been much back and forth between the teams from Israel, the United States and Egypt since Thursday to narrow the remaining gaps.