A UNITED NATIONS aid chief today warned the devastating Israeli attack on Palestinians in Gaza is a “wildfire” that threatens to consume the entire region.

As the brutal Israeli collective punishment of the Palestinians enters its fifth month, humanitarian affairs and emergency relief co-ordinator under-secretary General Martin Griffiths set out “five facts you need to know” about the situation in the devastated Palestinian territory.

The Gaza Health Ministry said that the Palestinian death toll has now reached 27,585 with about 66,978 wounded. The ministry warned that the figure is likely to be much higher as many thousands are still missing, believed trapped or killed beneath bombed-out buildings.