101 UN employees killed since start of war on Gaza: UN Chief

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
12 Nov 2023 23:35

Yesterday, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said that a significant number of individuals have lost their lives and numerous others have sustained injuries due to the shelling of its compound in Gaza City, which shelters several hundred refugees.

Palestinians look for survivors following an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023 ( AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told CNN on Sunday that a total of 101 UN employees have passed away since the beginning of the war on Gaza.

"[We have lost] 101 [of UN employees] as of today," Guterres said, adding that the number of casualties among UN staffers was growing every day.

Yesterday, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said that a significant number of individuals have lost their lives and numerous others have sustained injuries due to the shelling of its compound in Gaza City, which shelters several hundred refugees.

UNDP & @UN office in #Gaza was shelled w/ reports of people killed & injured among those who sought safety in our compound.

“This is wrong on every count. Civilian infrastructures & the inviolability of UN facilities must be always protected” - @ASteiner. https://t.co/9lDSBYY6YF pic.twitter.com/FdqUtImh1x
— UN Development (@UNDP) November 12, 2023

The IOF says it told all residents and NGO staffers to move to the southern part of Gaza, but it never ruled out the option of bombing the South.

"At no stage have we said that we are not going to strike in southern Gaza. There may be cases where we will strike military targets of importance in Gaza … [We said] only that we are focusing our main combat activity, our main operations in the north. I think it is very clear, very evident for everybody watching," spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said on Saturday.

On November 10, Gilad Erdan, "Israel's" Permanent Representative to the United Nations justified the killing of UN staffers by saying "Many UNRWA workers in Gaza are themselves members of Hamas. The time has come to bust the myth of UN-supplied facts."

"Many @UNRWA workers in Gaza are themselves members of Hamas. The time has come to bust the myth of UN supplied facts"

The Israeli representative at the United Nations launches a tirade against the UN, UN agencies, UN workers and UN officials pic.twitter.com/1OJQ8yj11E
— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) November 10, 2023