‘Grim milestone’: Nearly 200 UNRWA workers killed in Gaza, says UNRWA chief

GAZA: The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said on Saturday that nearly 200 UNRWA workers have been killed in Gaza since Israel’s ongoing offensive began on October 7, 2023.

“When the war in Gaza began nearly ten months ago, no one imagined we would reach this grim milestone. “Almost 200 UNRWA team members have been killed in Gaza,” Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement on X.

“These are not numbers; these are our colleagues and our friends,” said Lazzarini, adding that “this is by far the largest loss of personnel killed in a single conflict or natural disaster since the establishment of the United Nations—a reality the world must never accept.”

Lazzarini reiterated “the UN Secretary General’s call for complete accountability for each and every one of these deaths.”

Israel has continued its brutal offensive against Gaza since Hamas launched an attack on October 7.

Since then, more than 39,000 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of whom are women and children. Vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.