According to The Times of Israel, the UN stressed on Monday that 88 staff members were killed in Gaza, the highest number of UN fatalities ever recorded in a single conflict.
Reports state that 88 workers of the UNRWA, a Palestinian refugee agency, have perished since the war began on October 7.
In a joint statement, the heads of the principal UN agencies stated that this figure is “the highest number of UN fatalities ever recorded in a single conflict.”
In addition to expressing shock at the number of civilian deaths in Gaza, the statement demanded an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” according to The Times of Israel.
In the meantime, it demanded that Hamas release the Israeli hostages it had abducted.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday declared that Israel will not agree to a ceasefire until the Hamas terror group releases the hostages it is holding, The Times of Israel reported. “Take this word (‘ceasefire’) out of the lexicon. We will continue until we defeat them; we do not have an alternative,” Netanyahu is quoted saying in a statement from his office.
“It’s been 30 days. Enough is enough. This must stop now,” the statement added.
Reportedly, 240 Israelis are still being held as hostages by Hamas in Gaza.
In addition, The Times of Israel claims that the UN Security Council will convene again on Monday in an emergency session to go over the most recent developments in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“In light of the worsening situation in Gaza, the attack on the Al-Shifa Hospital, and repeated attacks on the Jabalia refugee camp, the UAE and China called for closed consultations to be convened tomorrow, November 6, at 3 p.m.,” a spokesperson for the UAE’s UN mission said on X.
Further, several resolutions calling for “humanitarian pauses” have failed to garner the necessary votes.