The United Nations introduced on Monday that it might scale back its presence in Gaza by withdrawing about one-third of its worldwide staff there, following repeated strikes of its amenities by Israel.
Secretary Basic António Guterres mentioned in a press release that the choice to scale back the group’s footprint in Gaza was “troublesome” at a time when humanitarian wants have been hovering and as a resumption of Israeli assaults have been killing lots of of Palestinians, together with girls and youngsters.
The drawdown introduced Monday can be the primary time for the reason that begin of the Israeli-Hamas battle in 2023 that the United Nations has lowered its work drive in Gaza, however it’s going to retain a presence there.
“The U.N. shouldn’t be leaving Gaza. The group stays dedicated to persevering with to supply support that civilians depend upon for his or her survival and safety,” Mr. Guterres mentioned within the assertion.
At the very least 280 U.N. workers members have been killed in Gaza for the reason that begin of the battle, the group’s largest lack of life in any battle in its historical past, Mr. Guterres has mentioned.
Stéphane Dujarric, the U.N. spokesman, mentioned that about 30 p.c of the group’s 100 or so worldwide workers members from totally different businesses can be leaving Gaza over the subsequent week and that probably extra would depart within the coming weeks.
Native Palestinian workers members would stay in Gaza to hold out humanitarian work.
On March 19, an Israeli tank shell hit a U.N. compound situated within the Deir al Balah neighborhood of Gaza, Mr. Dujarric mentioned. The assault killed a U.N. workers member from Bulgaria and injured six others.
“The purpose is that the Israelis knew precisely the place this U.N. facility was, and it was hit by a shell from one in every of their tanks,” Mr. Dujarric mentioned. He mentioned the United Nations wished an unbiased investigation and known as on all combatants to respect worldwide legal guidelines defending U.N. premises and humanitarian staff.
“An preliminary investigation into this incident discovered no connection to the I.D.F.,” mentioned Jonathan Harounoff, Israel’s U.N. spokesman, referring to the Israel Protection Forces. He added: “Our solely targets are Hamas terrorists whose raison d’être is to kill and kidnap Israelis, to make use of Gazans as human shields and to make use of U.N. amenities as launching pads and weapon depots.”
The United Nations has alleged that Israel has focused its compounds, convoys and staff on a number of events in Gaza.
Israel has blocked all humanitarian support into Gaza since March 2, and with the border crossings closed, no meals, drugs, gas or clear water has entered the strip the place two million folks depend on important support for weeks.
Israel mentioned that it had blocked support and resumed airstrikes, shattering a fragile cease-fire settlement with Hamas, as a result of the militant group, which led the Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel that began the battle, had refused to launch the remaining hostages it had seized. Of the 59 remaining hostages in Gaza, fewer than half are believed to be alive.
Mr. Dujarric mentioned that Israeli strikes had additionally focused ambulances and medical staff who have been attempting to avoid wasting survivors of airstrikes.