ISTANBUL

The World Health Organization (WHO) chief expressed sadness on Friday over the deaths of colleagues from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) team in the Gaza Strip.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement: “Indescribable pain of learning again about the loss of our colleagues in Gaza.

“We’re endlessly grateful for their commitment, bravery and service in Gaza. Our thoughts are with their families and the whole UNRWA team.”

Earlier on Friday, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said: “Over 100 UNRWA colleagues confirmed killed in 1 month.”

“UNRWA is mourning, Palestinians mourning, Israelis mourning. Ending this tragedy needs humanitarian ceasefire now,” he stressed.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip – including hospitals, residences, and houses of worship – since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 11,078 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,506 children and 3,027 women. The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is nearly 1,600, according to official figures.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi