UNRWA halts operations in Gaza
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Gaza City, Jan 8, IRNA -- The UN has said on Thursday it is suspending aid operations in Gaza because its staff have been hit by Israeli attacks.
The UN's suspension of aid efforts came shortly after it said one person had been killed and two hurt when a fork-lift truck on a UN aid mission came under Israeli tank fire at Gaza's Erez crossing.
The UN's relief agency UNRWA said it was "with great regret" that it had been forced to make a difficult decision.
"We have suspended our operations in Gaza until the Israeli authorities can guarantee our safety and security," said UNRWA spokesman Christopher Gunness.
"Our installations have been hit, our workers have been killed in spite of the fact that the Israeli authorities have the co-ordinates of our facilities and that all our movements are coordinated with the Israeli army."
The UN said the movements of the truck hit at the Erez crossing had been coordinated with Israel.
UN officials working in Gaza Strip say that Israel is deliberately targeting civilians.
IRNA reporter in Gaza City said that worsening the humanitarian situation will gain momentum in absence of UNRWA from Gaza.
“It seems the Israeli leaders have decided to make the Palestinians living in Gaza Strip die from hunger, cold and lack of medicines. Israel is an occupying entity and the Geneva Convention does not allow it to subject a nation whose territory has been occupied to such a destiny."
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