Tragic Toll: Over 100 UN Staff Among the Casualties in Israel-Hamas Conflict, Deadliest Period in UN History

In the midst of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) has reported that more than 100 UN employees have tragically lost their lives, making it the deadliest conflict ever for the UN within such a short span of time. Teachers, doctors, nurses, and support staff are among those who have been mourned by the agency, emphasizing that these individuals, along with the other civilians in Gaza, should never have been killed. UN staff worldwide will observe a minute of silence and flags will be flown at half mast in honor of the victims.

Israel has been held responsible for the loss of civilian lives in Gaza, as they claim that Hamas uses the population as human shields and hides weapons and equipment around hospitals. However, the devastation caused by Israel's brutal and indiscriminate aerial and ground attacks has led to the deaths of over 11,000 civilians in Gaza, mostly women, children, and the elderly. In comparison, around 1,400 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack on Israel, with approximately 240 taken hostage. This tragic loss of UN staff in Gaza surpasses previous deadly conflicts for UN aid workers, including attacks in Nigeria, South Sudan, and Afghanistan.

In addition to the UN staff, seven other non-UN Palestinian aid workers have also been killed in Gaza. Aid workers are meant to be protected under international humanitarian law, but unfortunately, few cases like this have reached trial, with obstacles such as ensuring future access for aid groups and difficulty proving intent being cited as impediments. Established in 1949, UNRWA has provided crucial public services such as schools, healthcare, and aid to Palestinian refugees who were displaced from their land by Israel during the Nakba. Many of the 5,000 UNRWA staff members working in Gaza are Palestinian refugees themselves. While UN staff are supposed to receive compensation in the event of their death, including some funeral costs and an annual payout for their families, UNRWA's financial struggles, exacerbated by the ongoing crisis, have raised doubts about their ability to pay staff salaries until the end of the year.