Editorial | Two biggest powers must work towards ending Gaza crisis
- Thousands have perished as Israeli forces target Hamas militants behind the deadly October 7 assault, and with ceasefire calls coming to nothing, China and the US have to step up
Flags flew at half-mast outside United Nations offices earlier this week as the world body held a moment of silence to remember at least 101 employees killed in Gaza since the start of Israel’s devastating military response to the deadly October 7 incursion by Hamas militants.
UN Geneva Director General Tatiana Valovaya said on Monday that it was the “highest number of aid workers killed in the history of our organisation in such a short time”. The UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) has about 5,000 staff.
Many, who were refugees themselves, died queuing for bread or sheltering at home with their families. China said it was “shocked” by the deaths and foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Tuesday called for the agency’s workers to be “effectively protected”.
Journalists have also been killed in Gaza. At least 42 reporters and media workers were confirmed dead as of Tuesday, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Media and aid agencies had already been pulling out staff for their safety, leaving the world with a far from complete picture of what is happening. The details available are horrifying.
About two-thirds of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been left homeless and at least 11,000 are dead. More than 40 per cent of the deaths and injuries are among children.
