Gaza (Washington Insider Magazine)—In a tragic escalation of violence, a staff member of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) was killed, and 22 others were injured when Israeli forces struck a food distribution center in Rafah, southern Gaza. The attack on Wednesday targeted a facility essential for distributing critical aid to the 1.5 million displaced Palestinians in the city.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini condemned the incident, stating, “Attacks on UN facilities have become commonplace, showing blatant disregard for international humanitarian law.” Since the onset of the war, at least 165 UNRWA staff members have been killed, with over 150 UN facilities struck during Israeli military operations.
The Israeli military confirmed a strike in Rafah, claiming it targeted Mohammed Abu Hasna, a Hamas operative accused of coordinating attacks and misappropriating humanitarian aid. However, UNRWA maintained that its coordinates had been shared with Israeli forces in advance.
Pictures from the scene revealed blood-stained courtyards and damaged warehouses stocked with aid supplies. Juliette Touma, UNRWA spokesperson, expressed dismay, emphasizing that the facility was a lifeline for many amid widespread hunger and famine conditions in Gaza.
This comes as Gaza endures its seventh week of conflict following the October 7 Hamas attacks on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people. The subsequent Israeli military campaign has led to over 31,200 fatalities in Gaza, according to local health officials.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that continued escalation could plunge Gaza into an even deeper humanitarian crisis, with limited access to food, water, and medical supplies exacerbating the dire situation.
The UN has reiterated its call for the protection of humanitarian facilities, warning that the destruction of such resources will only worsen the suffering of the Palestinian population.
