The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has said that 99 of its staff have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the Israeli-Hamas war on October 7.
This came in a speech delivered by UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini during the International Humanitarian Conference for Civilians in Gaza held in Paris, France.
“The past month was painful for UNRWA,” said Lazzarini.
He said “99 of my male and female colleagues were killed in Gaza. This is by far the largest number of United Nations relief workers killed in a conflict in such a short time.”
He noted that they are among 10,000 people killed since the beginning of the war, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.
More updates 👇
0216 GMT — Gaza hospitals come under new Israeli attacks
Israel has launched air strikes on or near at least three hospitals, further stressing the Palestinian enclave’s precarious health system as it struggles to cope with thousands of people wounded or displaced in Israel’s war on Gaza.
“The Israeli occupation launched simultaneous strikes on a number of hospitals during the past hours”, Gaza Ministry of Health spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra told Al Jazeera television.
The medical facilities included Gaza’s biggest hospital, Al Shifa, where Israel without proof said Hamas has hidden command centres and tunnels, allegations Hamas denies. Qidra said Israel targeted the Gaza City medical complex’s courtyard and there were casualties, but he did not provide details.
0503 GMT — Civilians flee north Gaza or shelter at a hospital
Crowds of Palestinian families stretching as far as the eye could see have walked out of Gaza City and surrounding areas toward the south to escape Israeli air strikes and ground troops battling Hamas fighters in dense urban neighbourhoods.
Others joined tens of thousands taking shelter at the city’s biggest hospital, not far from the fighting.
Growing numbers of people have been living in and around the hospital complex, hoping it will be safer than their homes or United Nations shelters in the north, several of which have been hit repeatedly.
Israeli troops were around 3 kilometres from the hospital, according to its director.
0344 GMT — Protesters stage sit-in at New York Times headquarters to call for ceasefire in Gaza
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have occupied the lobby of The New York Times, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza while accusing the media of showing a bias toward Israel.
The latest in a series of near-nightly demonstrations since the start of the war saw thousands march through Midtown Manhattan to protest Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
At around 5 pm local time, a small group of demonstrators led by media workers calling themselves “Writers Bloc” entered the atrium of the Times building carrying a banner calling for a ceasefire.
They remained for over an hour, reading off the names of thousands of Palestinians killed in Gaza, including at least 36 journalists whose deaths have been confirmed since the war began.
0315 GMT — Netanyahu rules out ceasefire, says no plans to occupy Gaza
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled out a ceasefire in Gaza, saying the military was performing “exceptionally well,” but insisted Israel does not plan to reoccupy the Palestinian territory.
“A ceasefire with Hamas means surrender,” he told Fox News, adding there was no “timetable” for the military offensive.
“I think the Israeli army is performing exceptionally well,” he added. “However long it takes, we’ll do it.”
0139 GMT — Half of Gaza’s housing destroyed in 1 month by Israeli war: UN
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has released a report revealing that 50 percent of the housing in Gaza was destroyed in one month as a result of the Israeli attacks on the area.
Abdallah Al Dardari, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the United Nations Development Programme Regional Bureau for Arab States, and Rula Dashti, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), held a press conference in which they briefed the media on the findings of the report, which was issued jointly by the two organisations and titled Gaza War: Expected Socioeconomic Impacts on the State of Palestine: Preliminary estimation until 5 November 2023.
Al Dardari said 50 percent of the housing in Gaza was destroyed in one month.
