Tragedy struck in Rafah on Monday as a United Nations aid worker lost their life and another was injured in an attack on a vehicle clearly identified as belonging to the UN. The incident occurred while the UN personnel were traveling in a vehicle prominently displaying the UN flag and insignias, according to a statement by Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary-General.
No specific party has been held responsible for the attack, as Haq refrained from attributing blame to either Israel or Hamas. This unfortunate event marks the first death of a UN foreign aid worker since October 7.
While the Gaza media office pointed fingers at Israel for the attack, the Israeli military has yet to respond to these allegations. In response to the tragic incident, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres's office issued a statement strongly condemning the assault on UN personnel and called for a thorough investigation into the matter.
The statement from the secretary-general's office expressed deep sorrow over the loss of a United Nations Department of Safety and Security (DSS) staff member and the injury sustained by another DSS staffer during the attack. The secretary-general emphasized the urgent need for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, given the heavy toll the conflict is taking on both civilians and humanitarian workers. Additionally, the statement called for the immediate release of all hostages, underscoring the critical need for peace and safety in the region.
