Six UN refugee agency workers killed in Gaza in 24 hours

GAZA: Six workers with the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency were killed in just 24 hours in Gaza, the global body said Tuesday, bringing to 35 the total of its staff killed since October 7.

Humanitarian and aid workers have not been spared in more than two weeks of relentless Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip after Hamas gunmen carried out the worst attack in Israel’s 75-year history.

“Since the start of hostilities, at least 16 health workers have been killed while on duty, along with 35 UNRWA staff,” the United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA said in an update sent Tuesday on the situation up to Monday evening.

At least 110 killed in Israel strikes across Gaza Strip

“Six of (them) were killed in the past 24 hours.”

The UNRWA supports the 5.6 million Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

More than 5,000 people have died during Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip, according to numbers given by the Hamas-run health ministry.

Israel has been striking back following the October 7 attacks, which Israeli officials say killed more than 1,400 people who were shot, stabbed or burned to death by militants.