The United Nations has announced that it will be reducing its presence in Gaza by withdrawing approximately one-third of its international workers. This decision comes after repeated strikes on its facilities by Israel. Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the organization’s reduced engagement in Gaza during a time of escalating humanitarian needs and ongoing Israeli attacks is challenging. Despite these circumstances, the United Nations remains committed to continuing its aid efforts for the civilian population in Gaza.
Since the start of the Israeli-Hamas war in 2023, at least 280 U.N. staff members have lost their lives in Gaza, making it the largest loss of life in any conflict in the organization’s history. Stéphane Dujarric, the U.N. spokesman, stated that approximately 30 percent of the organization’s international staff members will be departing from Gaza over the next week, with more expected to follow in the coming weeks. Local Palestinian staff members, however, will remain in Gaza to carry out humanitarian work.
On March 19, an Israeli tank shell hit a U.N. compound in the Deir al Balah neighborhood of Gaza, resulting in the death of a U.N. staff member from Bulgaria and injuries to six others. Dujarric emphasized that the Israelis were aware of the U.N. compound’s location and called for an independent investigation and respect for international laws protecting U.N. premises and humanitarian workers.
The United Nations has accused Israel of targeting its compounds, convoys, and workers multiple times in Gaza. Israel has blocked all humanitarian aid into Gaza since March 2, and no food, medicine, fuel, or clean water has entered the region, where two million people rely on essential aid for weeks. Israel stated that it had blocked aid and resumed airstrikes because Hamas refused to release the remaining hostages it had seized.
Dujarric also mentioned that Israeli strikes had targeted ambulances and medical workers who were trying to save survivors of airstrikes.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/world/middleeast/un-workers-gaza-israel.html
