DayofPal– An Israeli airstrike on a UN-affiliated facility in central Gaza on Wednesday claimed the life of a foreign aid worker and wounded five others, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced.
The victims, employed by international humanitarian organizations, were carrying out relief operations when the strike hit their location.
Six foreign aid workers were rushed to Shuhda Al-Aqsa Hospital for treatment, the ministry added.
This latest attack follows a deadly Israeli bombing on Saturday in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, which killed eight humanitarian workers, according to The Washington Post. The UK- and Turkey-based charity Al-Khair confirmed that a civilian was also among the dead.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has intensified since Tuesday, with relentless airstrikes decimating civilian areas. Local reports indicate that hundreds have been killed or wounded as Israeli forces continue their large-scale offensive.
The escalation comes despite a ceasefire brokered in January by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. Under the agreement, Israel was to withdraw from Gaza and end its military operations in exchange for the release of Israeli prisoners.
However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has refused to move forward with the next phase of the deal.
A United Nations source told Al Jazeera’s Rami Ayari that the organization was “still confirming details” but was aware of at least two UN staff members killed and several others injured.
Netanyahu’s government initially denied involvement in the latest strike. However, Israel’s military later claimed it had targeted what it described as a Hamas military site.
As the war rages on, humanitarian workers, tasked with aiding a besieged and starving population, are increasingly caught in the crossfire, raising alarm over the safety of those providing life-saving assistance in Gaza.
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