News Center- In a briefing on Tuesday, Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, said that at least 196 humanitarian workers have been killed in the Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, 2023.

In late Monday, Israeli strikes in Gaza killed seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen (WCK). “Our Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, has just come out of Gaza.  Yesterday, she met with World Central Kitchen team members who, just hours later, were tragically killed in an air strike by Israeli forces. Ms. Kaag is appalled by this attack and joins others in expressing her condolences to their families and loved ones,” said Stéphane Dujarric.

At least 196 humanitarian workers killed since Oct.7

According to our humanitarian colleagues, at least 196 humanitarian workers have been killed since October in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which is one of the world’s most dangerous and difficult places to work as a humanitarian, the spokesperson added.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on X that the devastating Israeli airstrikes that killed World Central Kitchen personnel, bringing the number of aid workers killed in this conflict to 196, including more than 175 members of UN staff. “This is unconscionable, but it is an inevitable result of the way the war is being conducted.”

A correspondent asked the spokesperson, “What does the Secretary-General have to say to the Israeli Government on this incident?”

“The message is let humanitarian workers do their job, right? They need to be able to do it in safety,” the spokesperson answered.”

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said the strike was not carried out with the intention of harming WCK aid workers.