British Charity Worker Injured in Airstrike on UN Facility in Gaza

A British national is among the injured following an attack on a UN Office in Deir al-Balah amidst escalating violence in the region.

A British charity worker was injured following an explosion at a UN facility in the Gaza Strip, according to the Mines Advisory Group (MAG).

The 51-year-old was conducting an explosive hazards assessment at the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Deir al-Balah at the time of the incident.

The strike also resulted in the death of a UN worker, with Darren Cormack, chief executive of MAG, confirming the details in a statement.

The injured worker has since been transferred to a hospital in Gaza and later evacuated to an Israeli hospital.

His current condition remains undisclosed.

Mr. Cormack stated, "The UN has confirmed that today’s incident did not occur in the course of normal explosive ordnance disposal operations and resulted from ordnance being fired at or dropped on the building in which the team was working." He condemned the attack, emphasizing that humanitarian facilities should not be subjected to violence, referencing international law regarding attacks on humanitarian missions.

Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of UNOPS, highlighted that the blast was not an accident nor related to demining activities, although he refrained from attributing responsibility for the strike.

The Israeli military, which has been conducting extensive airstrikes across Gaza, denied involvement in the incident, asserting that it was not responsible for the explosion which left the British citizen injured.

The strikes reportedly began escalating on Tuesday, causing significant casualties.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 436 individuals, including 183 children and 94 women, have been killed since the renewed offensive commenced, with 678 reported injuries.

In total, local health officials estimate that nearly 49,000 Palestinians have died throughout the course of the conflict.

The conflict has seen a resurgence following the Hamas-led attacks into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the taking of 251 hostages.

Reports indicate that while many hostages have been released, 59 remain captive, with fears that more than half may already be deceased.

In light of the escalating violence, Sir Keir Starmer engaged in a discussion with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, advocating for restraint and the reinstatement of a ceasefire in Gaza.

A spokesperson from Downing Street shared that Prime Minister expressed significant concern over the renewed fighting and highlighted the necessity for all parties to return to diplomatic discussions to facilitate a ceasefire and allow for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza.