United Nations to reduce staff in Gaza following Israeli strikes
Illustrative photo: UN to reduce staff in Gaza following Israeli strikes (Getty Images)
The United Nations announced its decision to reduce its aid operation in the Gaza Strip, including cutting personnel in the region. This decision is related to the recent Israeli strikes on the territory of the enclave, according to the UN website.
"In the past week, Israel carried out devastating strikes on Gaza, claiming the lives of hundreds of civilians, including United Nations personnel, with no humanitarian aid being allowed to enter the Strip since early March,” said a statement released by his Spokesperson.
As a result, the Secretary-General has taken the "difficult decision" to reduce the Organization’s footprint in Gaza, "even as humanitarian needs soar and our concern over the protection of civilians intensifies.”
The UN informed that about one-third of the approximately 100 international staff working in Gaza will be temporarily relocated.
Dujarric also mentioned that, based on the current information, on March 19, Israeli tank strikes hit the UN compound in Deir el-Balah.
Last week, official Jerusalem stated that Israel was not responsible for the explosion near the UN compound.
In Dujarric’s statement, it was mentioned that as a result of the strikes, a UN staff member from Bulgaria was killed, and six others from France, Moldova, North Macedonia, Palestine, and the United Kingdom were injured, some of whom sustained severe injuries, leading to fatalities.
“I reiterate that all parties to the conflict are bound by international law to protect the absolute inviolability of UN premises,” the statement from Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric continued. “Without this, our colleagues face intolerable risks as they work to save the lives of civilians.”
The UN Secretary-General is also calling for a full, thorough, and independent investigation into the deadly strike of the previous Wednesday, and urges the protection of all civilians during the resumption of hostilities between Israeli forces and Hamas and the "resumption of aid deliveries."
Additionally, the UN stated that all hostages “must be released immediately and unconditionally”.
Ceasefire collapse and hostilities resumption in Gaza
Recently active hostilities between Israel and the Hamas group resumed. Official Jerusalem explains this, in part, by the fact that militants refuse to release hostages and have violated previously agreed ceasefire agreements.
On the night of March 18, Israeli forces struck Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. Reports emerged of hundreds of casualties and deaths.
Additionally, the peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, which was promoted by US President Donald Trump, has collapsed.
