MOSCOW, November 6. The number of UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) workers killed in the Gaza Strip has risen to 88, more than in any other conflict, the world body's humanitarian chiefs said in a joint statement.
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“The number of aid workers killed since October 7 includes 88 UNRWA staff. “This is the largest UN loss ever recorded in a single conflict,” the document emphasizes.
It was signed by UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths, head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Catherine Russell and others. They again called for the release of hostages taken by the Palestinian Hamas movement and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
«It's been 30 days. There is a limit to everything. This must stop now,» they said.
Conflict in the Middle East The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is associated with the territorial interests of the parties and has remained a source of tension and fighting in the region for many decades. A UN decision with the active role of the USSR in 1947 determined the creation of two states — Israel and Palestine, but only the Israeli one was created.
A new round of confrontation began after Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on the morning of October 7. After massive shelling, Hamas fighters entered the border areas in the south of the Jewish state, where they opened fire on both military and civilians, and also took hostages. The movement's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip. Within days of the attack The Israeli military took control of all settlements near the border and began carrying out airstrikes on targets, including civilians, in the enclave. In addition, Israel announced a complete blockade of Gaza: supplies of water, food, electricity, medicine and fuel were suspended.< br>The number of victims in the Gaza Strip reached almost ten thousand people, about half of them children. About 25 thousand were injured. In Israel, more than 1.4 thousand people died, including 20 Russians. In addition, according to various estimates, in captivity Hamas may have about 200-250 people.