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SvennoJ on 13 May 2024
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UN condemns killing of staffer in Gaza

Farhan Haq, a spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, says a UN staff member has been killed when “their vehicle was struck as they travelled to the European Hospital in Rafah this morning”.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of a United Nations Department of Safety and Security staff member and an injury to another DSS staff member,” Haq said. “The secretary-general condemns all attacks on UN personnel and calls for a full investigation,” he added.

We reported earlier, quoting local sources, that a UN vehicle was hit by Israeli shelling in Rafah, injuring at least one of the vehicle’s occupants.


A UN vehicle that came under fire by Israeli forces in Rafah, killing a UN staffer, May 13

UN confirms killing of first international staff in Gaza in Israeli ‘attack’

The UN has confirmed its first international staff casualty in Gaza after a UN vehicle was hit in Rafah.

Farhan Haq, a spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said during a news conference that the total number of UN staff killed in Gaza since October 7 has reached 190.

The Government Media Office in Gaza has condemned the Israeli army for killing a foreign UN employee and injuring another staffer in Rafah while they were riding in a United Nations vehicle.

“They were targeted while they were riding in a United Nations vehicle bearing the United Nations flag and United Nations insignia”, a statement from the office says.

The statement shared on Telegram demanded “an end to the war of genocide” and blamed the US administration for Israel’s “war crimes”.

A spokesperson for the secretary-general confirmed that there were two individuals in Rafah in a UN-marked vehicle on their way to the European Hospital there as part of their duties.

The UN said they work for the Department of Safety and Security and that they came under fire, and one of them was killed, and that person is an international staff member of the UN. The UN is not confirming what country the individual is from as it is still waiting to inform family members.

The second individual was injured; we’re told their injuries are minor and that they expect to have a full recovery.

Palestinians displaced to dilapidated Khan Younis

The expanding Israeli ground offensive in Rafah in southern Gaza has pushed many thousands of Palestinians to nearby Khan Younis, large parts of which have been destroyed by countless air strikes and a ground assault.