UN nezadovoljan pregovorima s Izraelom

UN je nezadovoljan pregovorima s Izraelom i prekidu vatre na Gazu.

UN relief officials say they're "very disappointed" by Israel's move to reject a proposed truce with Hamas. U.N. Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes:

(SOUNDBITE)(English) John Holmes, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, saying:

"The biggest need remains a ceasefire, an immediate ceasefire that's fully respected by all sides, so we have a chance to get humanitarian goods in a more systematic way and deal with all the casualties and damages so far."

They say 20 thousand people in Gaza are going without food each day after five straight days of Israeli air attacks. U.N. Relief and Works Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd described a scene of desperation.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) Karen AbuZayd, Commissioner-General of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, saying:

"I saw for the first time, and I've been here eight years, people going through rubbish dumps looking for things. People are begging. That's a new phenomenon."

UN officials say Israel won't let fuel enter Gaza, citing security risks at the crosspoints. With no new supplies since Monday, power has been cut to 650,000 residents in central Gaza.

Truckloads of food and medical supplies are getting in -- but small amounts at that.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) John Holmes, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, saying:

"We're getting in an average of 60 truckloads a day at the moment versus 125 truckloads a day in October 08 and 475 truckloads a day in May 07 before the Hamas takeover."

And with more than 1,650 wounded according to Palestinian officials, hospitals are running very low on drug supplies. UN officials say they hope to supply enough surgical kits on Thursday to treat 10,000 casualties and start distributing food.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, said Israel's army was trying to distinguish between armed militants and civilians.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi LIvni, saying:

"So we are working according to our values, according to something which is expected and rightly so, to make a distinction between Hamas and between the civilians and during this operation, not less important to mention, the crossings to Gaza Strip are open for humanitarian needs."

As Israel steps up preparations for a possible ground offensive, UN officials are talking to their Israeli counterparts about protecting emergency centers for distributing food and shelter. Bobbi Rebell, Reuters, New York.