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Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UN to pull a third of international staff from Gaza after attack
The United Nations is withdrawing around a third of its international employees from the Gaza Strip following an attack on UN employees in the territory, a spokesman said on Monday. UN Secretary-General António Guterres "has taken the difficult decision to reduce the United Nations footprint in Gaza," spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said in New York. Dujarric emphasized that the UN was not leaving the Gaza Strip altogether. "We remain committed to continuing to provide aid that civilians depend on for their survival and for their protection," he said. About 30 of the current 100 international staff members would leave the region for the time being, he said. The remaining employees and the more than 10,000 Palestinian employees of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) would continue their work, he added. Dujarric said an Israeli tank was behind last week's attack, which killed a Bulgarian UN employee and injured six other international employees. The UN has called for an investigation. "The Israelis knew exactly where this UN facility was, and it was hit by a shell from one of their tanks," Dujarric said. Israel denied reports that it had struck UN buildings and urged the media to be careful with unconfirmed reports.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UNRWA: Israel closes three schools, training centre in East Jerusalem
Israel has ordered the closure of three schools and a training centre run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the Arab-dominated eastern part of Jerusalem, according to the agency. "Children and young people in East Jerusalem denied of their right to education in UNRWA schools," UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X on Tuesday. The Israeli police referred dpa to the Jerusalem city administration, which did not comment. Israel has accused UNRWA workers of being involved in terrorist activities organized by Gaza-based Islamist militants Hamas, including the unprecedented terrorist attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Lazzarini said as well as three schools with 250 children being told to close, Israeli security forces and Jerusalem city officials forcefully entered the UNRWA Kalandia Training Centre and ordered its immediate evacuation. "At least 350 students and 30 staff were present and impacted. Tear gas and sound bombs were fired," he added. "This is a violation of the basic right to education as well as of United Nations privileges and immunities. Children's access to education must be preserved and United Nations facilities must be protected and respected at all times wherever they are." Israel's parliament imposed a ban on UNRWA working on Israeli territory, which came into force at the end of January. Another law prohibits Israeli authorities from having any contact with UNRWA. The Jewish state sees East Jerusalem as part of its "eternal and indivisible capital" while the Palestinians maintain their claim to East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state. The Jerusalem city council had announced that it would take care of affected students once the UNRWA ban began.
