Israel-Hamas War: UN says 88 staff members killed in Gaza, highest ever in single conflict

The UN stressed that 88 of its staff members have been killed in Gaza, “the highest number of United Nations fatalities ever recorded in a single conflict.” The staff members were from its Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA and the casualties were reported since the start of Israel-Hamas war on October 7. As per a report by The Times of Israel, a joint statement was issued in which the heads of all major UN agencies have expressed outrage at the civilian death toll in Gaza and calls for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire." They also demanded that Hamas release the hostages it kidnapped from Israel. “It’s been 30 days. Enough is enough. This must stop now,” the statement further read. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday declared that Israel will not agree to a ceasefire until the Hamas terror group releases the hostages it is holding, The Times of Israel reported. “Take this (word ‘ceasefire’) out of the lexicon. We will continue until we defeat them; we do not have an alternative,” Netanyahu is quoted saying in a statement from his office. “It’s been 30 days. Enough is enough. This must stop now,” the statement added. As per Israeli military, the current count of hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza is 240. On Sunday, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Take this (word ‘ceasefire’) out of the lexicon. We will continue until we defeat them; we do not have an alternative.” A ceasefire will take place only if all the hostages are freed, Netanyahu added, another report in The Times of Israel said. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council said it would be holding another emergency meeting on Monday (November 6) to discuss the latest developments in the Israel-Hamas war. “In light of the worsening situation in Gaza and the attack on the Al-Shifa Hospital and repeated attacks on Jabalia refugee camp, the UAE and China called for closed consultations to be convened tomorrow 6 November at 3 pm,” a spokesperson for the UAE’s mission to the UN posted on X. With inputs from agencies