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U.N. Chief Decries Lack of Accountability for UN Staff Killings in Gaza

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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticized the failure to hold those responsible for the deaths of U.N. staff and aid workers in Gaza accountable, calling it “totally unacceptable” in an interview with Reuters. Guterres emphasized the need for effective investigations into the deaths of nearly 300 humanitarian workers, most of whom were U.N. staff, amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Guterres condemned the humanitarian situation in Gaza, citing violations of international law and inadequate protection of civilians as Israel retaliates against Hamas. While Israel claims it targets militants, Guterres called for more robust investigations into civilian casualties, including aid workers.

The U.N. Secretary-General also expressed concerns about Haiti, where armed gangs have created a humanitarian crisis. Guterres said a U.N. peacekeeping force would not be suitable for the country’s current unrest and criticized the slow response to Haiti’s request for international assistance.

Looking ahead to the U.N. General Assembly, Guterres described the global situation as chaotic, citing the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine as having no peaceful solutions in sight.

 

Fear of ‘Lost Generation’ as Gaza School Year Begins with All Classes Shut Amid Ongoing War

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The new school year in Gaza began under grim circumstances on Monday, with all schools closed due to 11 months of relentless war and no signs of a ceasefire. As the fighting raged on, Israel issued new evacuation orders for northern Gaza residents in response to rocket fire from the territory.

Umm Zaki, a mother of five, recounted how her son Moataz, who was supposed to start 10th grade, instead woke up in a tent in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah and had to fetch water from over a kilometer away. “Usually, this would be a day of celebration, seeing the children in their new uniforms, dreaming of becoming doctors and engineers,” she said. “Today, all we hope is for the war to end before we lose any of them.”

The Palestinian Education Ministry reported that all schools in Gaza remained shut, with 90% of them damaged or destroyed in Israel’s ongoing offensive, launched after Hamas’ attack on Israeli towns last October. Meanwhile, the U.N.’s Palestinian aid agency, UNRWA, has converted many of Gaza’s schools into emergency shelters for displaced families.

Juliette Touma, UNRWA’s Director of Communications, expressed concern about the long-term impact on Gaza’s children, warning of a “lost generation” vulnerable to exploitation, including child marriage, labor, and recruitment into armed groups. More than 625,000 students are currently missing school, alongside 58,000 six-year-olds who should have started first grade this year.

In an effort to support children’s mental health, UNRWA launched a back-to-learning program in 45 of its shelters, offering activities such as games, drama, arts, music, and sports.

Nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced multiple times. In the latest evacuation notice, Israel warned residents of northern Gaza to leave their homes due to continued rocket fire. The Israeli military reiterated that the area was considered a “dangerous combat zone.”

The United Nations is also urging residents to have their children vaccinated against polio amidst the violence, following Gaza’s first polio case in 25 years. A campaign targeting 640,000 children is underway, with 450,000 vaccinated as of Monday.

The ongoing conflict, which began with Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, has so far claimed over 40,900 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Both sides continue to accuse one another of obstructing ceasefire negotiations that could potentially end the violence and secure the release of hostages.

Israel Recovers Bodies of Six Hostages in Gaza Tunnel, Including Israeli-American Goldberg-Polin

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Israel has recovered the bodies of six hostages from a tunnel in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where they were killed shortly before Israeli forces reached them, according to the Israeli military. The victims, identified as Carmel Gat, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino, were among approximately 250 hostages taken by Hamas during its attack on southern Israel on October 7.

Military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari reported that the hostages appeared to have been murdered by Hamas terrorists just before Israeli troops arrived. President Isaac Herzog expressed the nation’s collective grief, apologizing for the failure to rescue them alive. The bodies have since been returned to Israel.

The killing of Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American, has drawn international condemnation, including a statement from U.S. President Joe Biden, who expressed devastation and outrage at the murders. Biden paid tribute to the courage of Goldberg-Polin’s parents and vowed that Hamas leaders would face justice for their crimes. He reaffirmed his commitment to securing the release of the remaining hostages.

The recovery of the bodies comes amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza and rising death tolls. As of Saturday, Gaza’s health ministry reported over 40,000 Palestinians killed and nearly 94,000 injured since the start of Israel’s military response. Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate a ceasefire deal that would include the release of all remaining hostages.

Hostage rescue efforts continue to be a focal point, as demonstrated by the recent successful recovery of another hostage, Qaid Farhan Alkadi, a Bedouin community member, not far from where the six hostages’ bodies were found. Despite these tragic losses, efforts to secure a ceasefire deal persist, with Biden expressing optimism about reaching an agreement to end the conflict.

The tragedy has intensified protests within Israel, where citizens are demanding that the government expedite a deal for the release of hostages. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have called for global condemnation of Hamas’ continued brutality, pledging unwavering support for the release of hostages and holding Hamas accountable for its actions.

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