The United Nations said one of its staff members was killed when one of its convoys came under fire in Rafah on Monday. This is the first time an international UN staff member has been killed in Gaza since the conflict began last October.
The U.N. said the convoy, which the U.N. said was clearly marked with the sign, came under fire as it was on its way to the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Younis to assess aid and the security situation. Organization’s logo.
The United Nations said another staff member was injured in the attack.
The nationality of the slain worker, a man, was not immediately released. Jordan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that one of the injured female staff members was Jordanian and said the incident was “a result of Israel’s expanded military operations in Rafah,” adding that Jordan “holds Israel accountable.” .
The Israeli military said it had conducted a preliminary investigation and found that “the vehicle was hit in an area declared an active war zone” and that its forces “were not informed of the vehicle’s route.” The incident is said to remain under review.
In addition to the more than 35,000 Palestinians killed in Israel’s war with Hamas, the conflict is also the deadliest in United Nations history, according to Gaza health authorities. Mr. Haq said more than 190 United Nations staff had been killed, all Palestinians except those on Monday.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: ‘Humanitarian workers must be protected’ Average,” he said in a post on social media. “I condemn all attacks against United Nations personnel and renew my urgent call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the release of all hostages.”
A senior U.N. official, briefed by Gaza security officials on the incident, said an initial assessment showed the convoy was not hit by an air attack or caught in the crossfire.
The official said the convoy came under direct fire in the morning as it traveled along its intended route in a vehicle with United Nations markings.
Fierce fighting continued on Monday in Gaza City, Jabaliya and the southern city of Rafah, where more than a million people have fled trying to escape Israeli military attacks. Haq said 360,000 people have fled Rafah since Israel issued an evacuation order a week ago.
“We remain deeply concerned about the lack of protection for civilians and the lack of security for humanitarian operations,” Mr Haq said. “Civilians must be protected and have their basic needs met, whether they move or stay.”
Dr. James Smith, a British emergency specialist who travels between medical facilities in southern Gaza on Monday, said via text message that he had visited the European Hospital in Gaza earlier in the day. Dr. Smith said the emergency room was packed with screaming patients and medical staff running in the hallways.
He said little aid was being provided to displaced people seeking asylum and the scene around hospitals was bleak.
“Khan Yunis has been eliminated,” Dr. Smith said.
The World Health Organization said on Monday that Israel’s incursion into Rafah has endangered health services and prevented humanitarian workers from delivering life-saving medical supplies.
Mr Haq said fuel shortages entering Gaza remained one of the biggest challenges to humanitarian aid efforts. Mr Haq said the hospital’s generators required at least 46,000 liters of fuel a day, and as the fighting in Rafah expanded, demand for fuel would only increase.
Anushka Patil Contributed reporting.
