UNRWA Confirms Over 300 Staff Killed Amid Israeli Strikes in Gaza, Escalating Humanitarian Crisis

In May 2025, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) announced that over 300 of its staff members have been killed since the beginning of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza in October 2023. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated that the majority were teachers, medics, and aid workers, many of whom died with their families while sheltering in or near UN facilities.

This figure marks the highest staff death toll in UN history and highlights the intensity of the conflict. UNRWA operates essential services across Gaza and serves as a cornerstone for refugee support, including schools, clinics, and food aid programs. Since the start of the war, the majority of Gaza’s population has become dependent on emergency humanitarian assistance.

Lazzarini said the level of devastation is beyond what the agency has ever experienced, with over 70% of homes damaged or destroyed and thousands of civilians displaced. He emphasized that despite mounting casualties and infrastructure collapse, UNRWA workers continue their duties to serve Gaza’s 2.3 million residents under siege-like conditions.

Conservative Viewpoint:
From a conservative perspective, the high death toll reported by UNRWA must be examined in light of Israel’s stated objective to dismantle Hamas operations embedded within civilian infrastructure. Israeli officials have long accused UNRWA of harboring personnel with links to terrorist groups, including Hamas, and argue that some UN facilities have been exploited for military purposes. A 2024 investigation by Israeli intelligence alleged that a number of UNRWA employees were active participants in or directly aided militant actions during the October 7 Hamas-led attacks.

As a result, critics question UNRWA's neutrality and accountability, with some U.S. lawmakers calling for the defunding of the agency and a reassessment of U.S. foreign aid policies. They assert that while the humanitarian toll is tragic, the presence of militants within civilian compounds presents complex battlefield challenges and blurs the lines between aid and threat. The priority, according to this view, remains Israel’s right to self-defense and the dismantling of networks that use civilians as shields.

At the same time, more centrist voices urge independent investigations into the targeting of UN facilities and advocate for greater oversight of aid organizations operating in conflict zones.

Video Report:

Israel’s war on Gaza: UNRWA's humanitarian services at breaking point

Sources and Links:

• UNRWA Official Statement – May 2025

• Anadolu Agency Report

• Reuters: Israel Accuses UN Staff of Ties to Hamas

• UNRWA Background – UN.org

The Brutal Truth Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research.