Many are unaware that the 102 United Nations staff whom Israel killed in Gaza were all Palestinians.
They were all local staff.
They were all from UNRWA.
UN offices worldwide lowered their flags to half-mast on November 13th, mourning the loss of 102 UNRWA staff killed by Israel since the start of the war in Gaza.
Ceremonies, statements and condemnations.
In remembrance, a minute of silence and vigils were held.
Nothing but a Facade.
In the history of the UN, this has been the highest death toll among UN staff in a short period.
What explains this?
The UN has specific security policies that apply to all personnel. UNRWA sets itself apart from other organizations because the majority of its staff is local, and the minority is international. In Gaza alone, there are approximately 13,000 local UNRWA staff members.
When the Security Phase in a country is deemed Critical, the UN evacuates the international staff to a designated safe haven outside the duty station. All UN offices have security plans in place that are constantly being updated. For local staff, the UN Security policy designates a safe haven within the same duty station.
For UNRWA, this could have meant, for example, designating Rafah as a safe haven.
What prevented this from being done?
The UNRWA local staff were not included in the UNDSS security system at any time. This is as straightforward as it gets. As a result, they have been denied a fundamental right: to be safeguarded against attacks of inhuman proportions. They were killed by Israel while delivering humanitarian services to Palestinians and sleeping in their homes with their families.
Why?
Because they are Palestinians?
Why?
Because they are too many?
Why?
Because designating a safe haven has additional cost implications?
Why?
Or is it because Palestinian lives are cheap and disposable?
Meanwhile, all international staff have been evacuated outside Gaza. Near the Rafah border on the Palestinian side, there are only a few international staff left.
If the 2014 Gaza war taught us anything, it should have been to implement a more inclusive security policy for local UNRWA staff during war times.
Yesterday, a journalist asked the UN spokesperson whether the UN was concerned about the UN staff in Gaza?
The Spokesman replied:
“ I mean, the UN staff in Gaza, the 13,000 or so UN staff there in Gaza are Gazans, right? They’re Palestinians. They are suffering along with the people that they serve”
They’re Gazans! They’re Palestinians!
As if Palestinians are destined to suffer…
As if Palestinians are destined to be killed and dismembered…
Mr. Spokesperson, that’s not correct.
Palestinian staff in Gaza are, first and foremost, United Nations staff. You have a responsibility to protect them while they deliver their work under the United Nations emblem.
The Blue Flag is certainly not worthy of the Palestinian staff.
Big salute and sincere respect to you Nadine. You are among the very few who are or used to serve w/ the UN system brave enough to say the truth and nothing but the truth. This covers “all” your articles and not only this one. Keep it up👍🏻