Abbas declares Gaza 'humanitarian disaster zone'

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has declared the embattled Gaza Strip a "humanitarian disaster zone" and called on the United Nations and international community to provide international protection for Palestinians against the Israeli "aggressions."

In a letter to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, Abbas called on the international relief bodies to provide urgent assistance to Gaza, which has been reeling under a crippling Israeli military offensive since July 7.

"The Israeli aggression undermines the right of the Palestinian people to life," Abbas said in his letter. He also called for food, water and medicine for those, affected by the Israeli onslaught.

Meanwhile, Gaza mayor Nizar Hijazi said that Israeli strikes over the power plant has completely stopped generating electricity. ''Sewage treatment plants can not work because there is no electricity. People can not have clear drinking water. We have been forced to use untreated sea water but this has led a humanitarion disaster for people''s health,'' said Hijazi.

The Gaza Strip has been ravaged by relentless Israeli attacks since July 7, leaving 1359 Palestinians - mostly civilians - dead and at least 7677 others injured. Israel claims that the offensive, now in its fourth week, aims at halting rocket fire from the blockaded Palestinian territory.

Gaza-based Palestinian factions, meanwhile, have continued to fire rockets at Israeli cities in response to the ongoing Israeli attacks. At least 56 Israelis - 53 soldiers and three civilians - have been killed since the hostilities began.

Israel's military operation, dubbed operation "Protective Edge," is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the densely-populate Gaza Strip - which is home to some 1.8 million Palestinians - within the last six years.

In 2008/9, over 1500 Palestinians were killed in Israel's three-week-long operation "Cast Lead."