Urgent: U.N. Dramatically Withdraws International Workers from Gaza Amid Intense Israeli Strikes
The United Nations announced a significant reduction in its international workforce in Gaza, citing safety concerns following repeated assaults on its facilities during the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict. Secretary-General António Guterres described the decision as “difficult” but necessary amid escalating violence that continues to claim the lives of hundreds of Palestinians, including women and children. This drawdown marks the first reduction since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war in 2023, but the UN will maintain a presence in the region despite the downturn.
Guterres affirmed the organization’s commitment to support civilians relying on humanitarian aid, underscoring that “the U.N. is not leaving Gaza.” Nevertheless, the UN has suffered its greatest loss in a single conflict, with at least 280 staff members killed since the war’s onset. Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric mentioned that around 30% of the UN’s 100 international staff in Gaza will depart over the next week, with possibly more withdrawals anticipated. Local Palestinian staff will continue their vital humanitarian efforts despite the turmoil.
A particular incident fueling safety concerns occurred on March 19, when an Israeli tank shell struck a UN compound in the Deir al Balah neighborhood, killing a Bulgarian staffer and injuring six others, Dujarric reported. He asserted, “The point is that the Israelis knew exactly where this U.N. facility was, and it was hit by a shell from one of their tanks,” calling for an independent investigation and emphasizing the need for warring factions to uphold international laws protecting UN premises and workers.
Israel’s UN spokesperson, Jonathan Harounoff, disputed these allegations, stating, “An initial investigation into this incident found no connection to the I.D.F.” Harounoff argued that their military operations exclusively target Hamas, accusing the group of using UN facilities for launching attacks and storing weapons, while employing civilians as shields.
Tensions have intensified as Israel imposed a blockade on humanitarian aid into Gaza since March 2, coinciding with Israel’s renewal of airstrikes following a breached ceasefire agreement with Hamas. This blockade has prevented the influx of essential supplies—food, medicine, fuel, and water—on which the densely populated strip of two million people depends. Israel justified these measures by accusing Hamas of withholding hostages captured during the initial October 7, 2023, assault, leading to the current war. Of the 59 hostages still under Hamas’s control, fewer than half are thought to remain alive.
Amid this volatile environment, Israeli strikes have also affected emergency services, with ambulances and medical workers targeted during rescue operations, according to Dujarric. The international community is urged to focus on maintaining humanitarian corridors and upholding laws that safeguard humanitarian operations.
Through this period, the UN vows to sustain its humanitarian mission in Gaza, balancing the urgent need for assistance against the inherent risks presented by the ongoing conflict.
Original Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/world/middleeast/un-workers-gaza-israel.html
Category : Gaza Strip,Israel,Guterres, Antonio,United Nations,Israel-Gaza War (2023- )
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Publish Date: 2025-03-25 07:28:00
