UNRWA Chief Says 258 Staff Killed And 20 Others Detained By Israel Since The Latest Conflict In Gaza Breaks

Philippe Lazzarini. (Twitter/@DohaForum)

JAKARTA - Commissioner General of the United Nations Aid and Work Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, said hundreds of bodies had died in the Gaza Strip since the latest conflict broke out last October 2023.

Highlighting a war that has lasted for 15 months, Lazzarini also highlighted the incidents experienced by his governing body to remind the rules in war.

"258 UNRWA staff were killed, nearly 650 incidents were experienced by UNRWA buildings and facilities," he tweeted on social media X, as quoted Tuesday, December 31.

"At least 745 people died in our shelter while seeking UN protection and more than 2,200 people were injured," he continued.

In the same upload, Lazzarini said it continues to receive reports of the use of agency facilities by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups.

Fifteen months on the war in #Gaza, horrors continue unabated under the world’s watch.

I received the latest from our teams 👇Since the beginning of the war: 🛑 258 @UNRWA staff members have been killed. 🛑 Nearly 650 incidents against UNRWA buildings & facilities were…

— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) December 31, 2024

Fifteen months on the war in #Gaza, horror continues unpaid under the world's watch.

I received the latest from our teams since the beginning of the war: 258 @UNRWA members have been killed. Nearly 650 incidents against UNRWA buildings & facilities were...

On the other hand, he also said the agency was verifying the occupation of their facilities by the Israeli Armed Forces.

He further revealed that there are currently about 20 UNRWA staff at the Israeli detention center. Meanwhile, those who have been released say there has been systematic persecution, humiliation and torture.

In northern Gaza, attacks on UNRWA staff, buildings and operations have increased significantly since Israel intensified its military operations nearly three months ago.

"I reiterate calls for an independent investigation into systematic neglect of the protection of humanitarian workers, places and operations. This cannot be a new standard and impunity cannot be a new norm," he exclaimed.

"Direct war rules, humanitarian workers and civil infrastructure, including hospitals and UN buildings, are not targets. Hostages are prohibited, civilian occupations must be assisted and protected at any time," he stressed.

"It's time to release all detained humanitarian staff and all hostages, facilitating humanitarian access to reach people in need wherever they are, lifting a siege of Gaza to bring much-needed humanitarian supplies including for winter," he added.