The global body said that UN staff worldwide will observe a minute of silence, and flags will fly at half mast on Monday.
More than 100 UN employees have been killed since the Israel-Hamas war began in Gaza, the UN Palestinian refugee agency known as UNRWA said on Friday, making it the deadliest conflict ever for the UN in such a short period.
Some were killed queuing for bread; others died along with their families in their homes, UNRWA said, as Israel’s devastating aerial and ground war against Hamas in densely populated Gaza continued in response to the Oct. 7 cross-border assault on Israeli communities by the group.
“Devastated. Over 100 UNRWA colleagues were confirmed killed in 1 month. Parents, teachers, nurses, doctors, support staff. UNRWA is mourning, Palestinians mourning, Israelis mourning,” Philippe Lazzarini said on social media platform X. The agency later said it was mourning 101 colleagues.
“They represent what is happening to the people of Gaza. They happen to work for the UN,” said Juliette Touma, director of communications at UNRWA.
“They and every other civilian in the Gaza Strip … should never have been killed.”
The global body said that UN staff worldwide will observe a minute of silence, and flags will fly at half mast on Monday.
(Foreign Agencies)
