- Israeli airstrikes in Gaza result in deaths of at least a dozen UN aid workers, including teachers and medical professionals, along with their families.
- UNRWA emphasizes the need to recognize innocent civilian deaths in Gaza.
- Death toll in Gaza rises as Israel intensifies airstrikes, potential ground offensive looms.
Additional Coverage:
- UN says 12 of its staff have been killed in Gaza, including 5 teachers and a doctor (businessinsider.com)
Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least a dozen UN aid workers, including five teachers, a gynecologist, and a psychologist, according to a spokesperson. Many of them were with their families at the time of the attack. This unfortunate event highlights the danger faced by non-combatants in the Palestinian territory.
Juliette Touma, the director of communications for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, stated that these civilians were killed in Gaza alongside their families. The victims, all Palestinians, worked as teachers, medical professionals, and support staff. The exact number of family members who also lost their lives is unknown.
Touma emphasized the need for people to recognize that innocent civilians in Gaza are being killed. The UNRWA was established to aid the hundreds of thousands of people displaced during Israel’s formation in 1948. It currently operates medical facilities and schools that are serving as shelters for nearly 220,000 Palestinian civilians.
Initially, the UNWRA reported that 11 employees had been killed in the Israeli attacks, but an additional fatality was confirmed later. The agency employs over 5,300 individuals in Gaza.
Israel launched a forceful counterattack on Gaza following a heinous terrorist attack that resulted in the deaths of numerous civilians, including women and babies. As of the latest update, Israeli authorities reported over 1,300 casualties, primarily civilians, with approximately 2,800 wounded and at least 97 individuals being held hostage.
Water and electricity supplies to Gaza have been cut off by Israel, with restoration conditioned on the release of those kidnapped by Hamas, including children, elderly women, and IDF soldiers. Israeli officials have advised civilians to avoid areas frequented by Hamas, but the majority of Gaza’s residents have nowhere else to seek refuge. Egypt, the neighboring country, has permitted only a small number of Palestinians to leave.
The death toll in Gaza continues to rise as Israel intensifies its airstrikes, potentially preceding a ground offensive. Local authorities report 1,417 fatalities and 6,200 injuries in response to Israeli actions.
The Israel Defense Forces did not immediately respond to requests for comments regarding this matter.
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- UN says 12 of its staff have been killed in Gaza, including 5 teachers and a doctor (businessinsider.com)