More than 500 people, including eight staff members of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), have been killed in Gaza over the past week, according to UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini.
"This past week has been the deadliest in the 18-month war—over 500 people, including women and children, were killed. Among them were eight UNRWA staff members," Lazzarini wrote on social media platform X.
He also highlighted the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where no aid has entered for more than three weeks. "During the ceasefire, up to 600 aid trucks arrived daily, but now parents are struggling to find food for their children, the sick lack medicine, prices are skyrocketing, and hunger is worsening. The risk of disease outbreaks is also increasing, while Israeli forces continue their attacks," he said, urging Israel to reopen border crossings to allow humanitarian aid to flow.
The Israeli military resumed large-scale operations in Gaza on March 18, breaking the ceasefire established in January. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office justified the renewed assault by blaming Hamas for allegedly rejecting proposals put forward by mediators and US envoy Stev Witkoff. Hamas, however, placed responsibility for the escalation on Israel and the US.
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Based on TASS materials