UNRWA mourns 63 of its staff killed in Gaza since Oct. 7

By Husameldin Mohammad

ISTANBUL (AA) - The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) on Monday mourned the 63 members of its staff killed in Gaza due to Israeli attacks since Oct. 7.

"No words can describe the grief for 63 of our UNRWA colleagues killed in Gaza since 7 October," UNRWA said in a statement on its X account.

"This unfathomable, continuous suffering that unfolds each day must stop now," it added.

It said that despite serious risks to its staff, UNRWA continues to serve those in need in Gaza.

UNRWA is the largest UN agency operating in Gaza.

More than 600,000 displaced Palestinians fled to its schools across the enclave seeking safety and assistance amid the intensified Israeli onslaught against Gaza.

The Israeli army has widened its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since a surprise offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

The Palestinian death toll from Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip has climbed to 8,306, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said Monday.

“The fatalities include 3,457 children and 2,136 women, while more than 21,048 people were injured,” ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told a news conference in Gaza City.

More than 1,538 Israelis have been killed in the conflict.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar