UN Worker Killed in Gaza as Israeli Airstrikes Resume
The UN reported that one of its workers was killed and several injured after a Gaza compound was hit, though details remain unclear. Gaza’s health ministry blamed an Israeli airstrike, but Israel denied targeting the site. Israel resumed military operations after a two-month ceasefire, with airstrikes killing over 400 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The UN condemned the attack and called for an investigation. Israeli forces expanded ground operations in Gaza, aiming to separate northern and southern areas.
Reports indicate additional civilian casualties from overnight airstrikes. Egypt criticized Israel’s actions as a ceasefire violation. Protests erupted in Israel, with families accusing Netanyahu of prioritizing war over hostage negotiations. Israel has blocked humanitarian aid, worsening shortages. UN officials urged the Security Council to restore the ceasefire. Fletcher condemned the blockade, calling it collective punishment. Israel claims Hamas still holds 59 hostages, with 24 believed to be alive.
UN Worker Killed in Gaza as Israeli Airstrikes Resume
A United Nations worker was killed, and several others were injured when a UN compound in Gaza was struck on Wednesday. The exact cause remains unclear. According to Gaza’s health ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, an Israeli airstrike caused the damage, and five critically injured foreign workers were taken to a hospital. However, Israel’s military denied targeting the UN facility in Deir al-Balah.
This incident follows Israel’s decision to resume military operations in Gaza after a two-month ceasefire. Gaza’s health ministry reports that over 400 people have been killed in recent airstrikes. On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that military efforts had resumed “at full strength,” with ground operations expanding into the Netzarim corridor. According to the Israeli military, this move aims to separate northern and southern Gaza.
Initially, the UN reported two fatalities but later clarified that only one of the deceased was a staff member. The UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) stated that the building, located in a remote area, was struck by an “explosive device.” UNOPS leader Jorge Moreira da Silva emphasized that this was “not an accident” and called for better protection of UN personnel and facilities. The UN Secretary-General’s office condemned the attack and demanded a full investigation. Verified footage showed injured individuals, including those wearing UN protective gear, being transported to a hospital.
Meanwhile, overnight airstrikes killed at least 20 people across Gaza. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that an Israeli drone strike targeted a tent near the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone, killing two civilians and injuring five others. Israel’s military stated that the strike was aimed at a Hamas military site preparing attacks and that Hamas-controlled boats were also destroyed.
UN humanitarian official Tom Fletcher described the recent bombings as “off the scale” in intensity. Wafa also reported that a woman and a child were killed in a strike north of Khan Younis, while four more people died in an attack on Gaza City.
Rising Death Toll and Stalled Ceasefire Talks
According to Gaza’s health ministry, 436 people, including 183 children, have been killed since Israel resumed its offensive. This marks the deadliest wave of violence since the ceasefire and hostage exchange deal began in January. Negotiations to extend the agreement stalled six weeks ago, halting further hostage releases and Israeli troop withdrawals.
Israel argues that continued military action is necessary to defeat Hamas and secure the release of hostages. However, families of Israeli hostages have criticized the government, accusing it of prioritizing combat over negotiations and abandoning their loved ones. Protests erupted in Jerusalem, where thousands blamed Prime Minister Netanyahu for undermining democracy and failing to secure the hostages’ freedom.
Egypt, a key mediator in the ceasefire talks, condemned the renewed airstrikes as a violation of the agreement. Meanwhile, Israel has blocked all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, leading to severe shortages of food, medicine, and essential supplies.
Tom Fletcher of the UN criticized the blockade, stating that aid is “rotting at the border” while civilians suffer. He urged the UN Security Council to push for a renewed ceasefire and the release of hostages, questioning how such devastation can continue unchecked.
Israel claims that Hamas still holds 59 hostages, with 24 believed to be alive.