Israel pounds Gaza ahead of UN ceasefire vote; over 100 killed

Mediators scramble to avert assault on Rafah, fearing mass casualties

GAZA Israel hit the Gaza Strip with air strikes on Feb 20, as world powers grappled with how to broker a ceasefire ahead of a United Nations Security Council vote that was expected to be blocked by a United States veto.

A total of 103 Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours of Israeli strikes and ground combat in the besieged Hamas-ruled territory, its health ministry said.

The UN has sounded the alarm over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, warning that food shortages could lead to an "explosion" of preventable child deaths.

More than four months of relentless fighting has flattened much of the coastal territory, pushed 2.2 million people to the brink of famine and displaced three-quarters of the population, according to UN estimates.

"How many of us have to die... to stop these crimes?" said Palestinian doctor Ahmad Moghrabi in southern Gaza's main city, Khan Younis. "Where is the humanity?"

Global powers trying to navigate a way out of the spiralling crisis have so far come up short, with a push on Feb 20 for a UN ceasefire resolution facing an expected US veto.

After months of struggling for a united response, all European Union members, except Hungary, called on Feb 19 for an "immediate humanitarian pause".

They also urged Israel not to invade Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, where nearly 1.5 million. Palestinians are sheltering, many in makeshift tents.

The city, the last untouched by Israeli ground troops, is also the main entry point for desperately needed relief supplies via neighbouring Egypt.