The UN has announced that it will temporarily reduce its international staff in Gaza due to safety concerns. The move comes after a recent wave of Israeli attacks on the territory, which have resulted in significant loss of life.
The UN has over 13,000 employees working in Gaza, with the vast majority being Palestinians who work as doctors, nurses, and other essential humanitarian workers. However, with over 250 people killed in the past 15 months, the secretary-general has deemed it necessary to reduce the international staff by about one-third.
This decision affects around 30 international staff members who will be leaving Gaza for their own safety. The move is a response to the escalating violence and Israeli aggression towards Palestinians in the region.
The UN’s announcement also highlights the dire situation in Gaza, where hundreds of civilians have been killed or injured in recent days. The International Committee of the Red Cross has condemned attacks on its premises in Rafah, while another rocket was successfully intercepted by Israel’s air force.
Additionally, a Palestinian journalist was killed in an Israeli air strike, and a 17-year-old Palestinian prisoner died in Israeli custody. These tragic incidents are a stark reminder of the human cost of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The UN’s decision to reduce its staff is a significant blow to the international community’s efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. The move also underscores the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the violence.
With over 50,000 Palestinians killed since October 2023, the situation in Gaza remains dire. The UN’s actions are a step towards mitigating the impact of this conflict, but more needs to be done to address the root causes of this ongoing crisis.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/3/24/live-israel-kills-46-in-gaza-including-two-hamas-officials