Israel-Hamas conflict: Six UN refugee agency workers died in Gaza in past 24 hours

UNRWA said so far 35 of its workers have died ever since the conflict started on Oct 7.

UNRWA posted on X: "Another six @UNRWA staff have been confirmed killed, bringing total to 35 staff killed since 7 October."

UN chief Antonio Guterres condoled the death of UNRWA staff and wrote on X: "Thousands of civilians have lost their lives amid the violence in the Middle East." "Among them, 35 of our @UNRWA colleagues—humanitarians, teachers—have been killed in Gaza since 7 October," he said. "We mourn their loss & stand with colleagues doing all they can to assist those in need," the UN chief said.

Meanwhile, the number of people killed in Gaza has exceeded 5,000 according to latest reports from de facto authorities there, amid intensifying Israeli airstrikes in response to Hamas attacks, while humanitarians repeated urgent calls for a ceasefire and more aid convoys.

Echoing that message, UN health agency (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a new appeal on Monday for “sustained safe passage” for medical essentials and fuel to keep health facilities open.

“Lives depend on these decisions,” he insisted on social platform X.

Latest media reports citing the Gaza Ministry of Health indicate that the number of people killed in Gaza since 7 October has risen to 5,087.

Women and children have made up more than 62 per cent of the fatalities, while more than 15,273 people have been injured.