GAZA CITY, Palestine — More than 300 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) have been killed in Israeli military operations in Gaza since October 2023, the agency’s chief announced on Sunday, May 18, 2025.
Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, described the toll as a “gruesome milestone” in a post on the social media platform X.
“The vast majority of staff were killed by the Israeli Army with their children & loved ones: whole families wiped out,” he wrote.
Most of the deceased were health workers and teachers, Lazzarini said, adding, “Several were killed in the line of duty while serving their communities.”
He condemned the killings, stating, “Nothing justifies these deaths. Impunity will lead to more killing. Those responsible must be held accountable.”
Established in 1949, UNRWA provides essential services to nearly 5.9 million Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
In Gaza alone, where Israel’s military offensive has persisted since October 2023, an estimated 2.4 million people rely entirely on humanitarian aid, according to World Bank figures.
The humanitarian crisis has worsened since Sunday, March 2, 2025, when Israel closed Gaza’s crossings to food, medical supplies, and other aid, as reported by governments, human rights groups, and international agencies.
Palestinian authorities say more than 53,300 people, predominantly women and children, have been killed in the conflict.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its military campaign in Gaza.
The Israeli government has repeatedly denied targeting civilians or aid workers, asserting that its operations aim to dismantle Hamas following the group’s Saturday, October 7, 2025, attacks.
