The United Nations has condemned attacks on personnel and calls for full investigation into this unfortunate incident at the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres who made the call in a statement attributed to the Spokesman on Monday, sent condolences to the family of the fallen staff member.
Guterres deeply saddened to learn of the death of a United Nations Department of Safety and Security (DSS) staff member and injury to another DSS staffer when their UN vehicle was struck as they traveled to the European Hospital in Rafah this morning.
With the conflict in Gaza continuing to take a heavy toll not only on civilians, but also on humanitarian workers, the Secretary-General reiterated his urgent appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for the release of all hostages.
Separately, UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA reported that another of its staff members had been killed in the war, bringing the total number to 188.
Adding that the 53-year-old senior projects officer was killed on Sunday in an Israeli strike in the central town of Deir Al Balah, after leaving Rafah.
The Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of the eastern third of the city, which is swollen with more than a million Palestinians taking refuge.
Over 1 million internally displaced Palestinians reside in the city, according to the UN. Several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, have warned Israel several times against entering the city, for fear of huge civilian casualties.
Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza to destroy Hamas in response to the group’s cross-border attack on southern Israel on 7 October, during which about 1200 people were killed and 252 others were taken hostage.
More than 35,090 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.