Israel Launches Another Strikes in Gaza Strip, Kills UN Staff, Several Injured

Gaza: An international United Nations staffer was killed and five others wounded in a alleged Israeli airstrike on a U.N. guesthouse in Gaza's Deir al-Balah on Wednesday. 

Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of the U.N. Office for Project Services, confirmed that the explosive ordnance was "dropped or fired" and stated that the blast was intentional, not accidental or linked to demining activities, though he did not specify who was responsible for the attack.

 Silva did not disclose the nationalities of those killed and wounded. The U.N. Office for Project Services (UNOPS), which he heads, is responsible for carrying out infrastructure and development projects globally.

Israeli Forces Israeli Military Denies Targeting UN Compound

The Israeli military forces, which has carried out a heavy wave of airstrikes since early Tuesday, has denied earlier reports that it had targeted the U.N. compound.

Moreira da Silva said that strikes hit near the compound on Monday, directly struck it on Tuesday, and again on Wednesday, when the staffer was killed. He added that the agency had informed the Israeli military after the first strike, confirming that they were aware of the facility's location.

Also Read: Israel says More Attacks to Come as Air Strikes Kill Over 400 in Gaza

“Israel knew this was a U.N. premise, that people were living, staying and working there," he said.

Ceasefire Shatters

Since Israel launched airstrikes early Tuesday, ending a ceasefire that had been in place since January, there have been no reports of rocket fire or other Palestinian militant attacks. The Israeli bombardment continued into Wednesday, though at a lower intensity.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 436 people, including 183 children and 94 women, have been killed since the strikes began. Additionally, 678 people have been wounded.

The Israeli military insists it only targets militants, blaming civilian casualties on Hamas, which it claims operates in densely populated areas. However, Gaza's Health Ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its casualty records.

(with AP inputs)