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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| UN 'shocked' by Gaza destruction | UN 'shocked' by Gaza destruction |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The UN's humanitarian chief has told the BBC the situation in Gaza after a three-week Israeli offensive against Hamas was worse than he anticipated. | The UN's humanitarian chief has told the BBC the situation in Gaza after a three-week Israeli offensive against Hamas was worse than he anticipated. |
| Sir John Holmes, who visited Gaza on Thursday, said he was shocked by "the systematic nature of the destruction". | Sir John Holmes, who visited Gaza on Thursday, said he was shocked by "the systematic nature of the destruction". |
| He said that the territory's economic activity had been set back by years. | He said that the territory's economic activity had been set back by years. |
| UN workers have been given access to Gaza. On Friday, Israel lifted a ban on international aid agencies entering the Palestinian territory. | |
| The ban had been in place since early November when tensions mounted between Israel and Hamas. | |
| Staff from a number of international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were allowed to cross into Gaza on Friday morning. | |
| Michael Bailey from Oxfam said: "We are extremely relieved to be able to join our local colleagues inside Gaza and to be able to provide them with some support and relief from the relentless work they have been doing." | |
| He described the task ahead as "enormous" as aid agencies begin to assess how to help the Gazans. | |
| Future of Gaza | Future of Gaza |
| Mr Holmes, the top UN official responsible for emergency relief and humanitarian affairs, said the scale of destruction would have "disturbing" repercussions for the people of Gaza. | Mr Holmes, the top UN official responsible for emergency relief and humanitarian affairs, said the scale of destruction would have "disturbing" repercussions for the people of Gaza. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme | |
| In an interview with the BBC's Today Programme, he described an industrial area where every building within a square kilometre had been levelled, by bulldozers and shells. | In an interview with the BBC's Today Programme, he described an industrial area where every building within a square kilometre had been levelled, by bulldozers and shells. |
| He told of broken pipes pumping out raw sewage onto the streets. | He told of broken pipes pumping out raw sewage onto the streets. |
| "I'm sure the Israelis would say that's because there were people there firing shells and rockets from there, or perhaps manufacturing them. | "I'm sure the Israelis would say that's because there were people there firing shells and rockets from there, or perhaps manufacturing them. |
| "But the nature of that destruction means that any kind of private economic activity in Gaza is set back by years or decades," he said. | "But the nature of that destruction means that any kind of private economic activity in Gaza is set back by years or decades," he said. |
| "That's very disturbing for the future of Gaza, for the future of the people of Gaza, who are forced to fall back on the public sector and indeed on Hamas, who control the public sector." | "That's very disturbing for the future of Gaza, for the future of the people of Gaza, who are forced to fall back on the public sector and indeed on Hamas, who control the public sector." |
| War crimes claims | |
| Israeli PM Ehud Olmert is reported to have placed his justice minister in charge of defending Israel against any accusations of war crimes. | |
| CONFLICT IN FIGURES More than 1,300 Palestinians killedThirteen Israelis killedMore than 4,000 buildings destroyed in Gaza, more than 20,000 severely damaged50,000 Gazans homeless and 400,000 without running water Bowen diary: Rafah rebuildsSpecial report: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps | |
| Daniel Friedman will lead an inter-ministerial team to co-ordinate a legal defence for Israeli civilians and the military, a government source was quoted by AFP as saying. | |
| Richard Falk - the UN special rapporteur for human rights in the Palestinian territories - has said there was "a prima facie case" that Israel gravely breached the Geneva Conventions during its 22-day campaign. | |
| Israel responded by saying that Mr Falk's "bias against Israel was well known". | |
| Israel said it launched its offensive to stop cross-border rocket attacks by militants in Gaza against its civilians. | Israel said it launched its offensive to stop cross-border rocket attacks by militants in Gaza against its civilians. |
| The intense fighting ended on Sunday, with both sides declaring a ceasefire. | The intense fighting ended on Sunday, with both sides declaring a ceasefire. |
| Palestinian medical officials said about 1,300 Palestinians were killed and thousands more were injured. Thirteen Israelis died during the conflict. | Palestinian medical officials said about 1,300 Palestinians were killed and thousands more were injured. Thirteen Israelis died during the conflict. |