The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, announced today, Saturday, that 200 of their employees were killed during the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip since October 7, noting that it is the "greatest loss" since the founding of the United Nations in 1945.

Lazzarini said, in a statement published on his account on the X platform, that a Palestinian teacher named Ibtihal was killed last week (by Israeli fire) with her 4-month-old baby, in a place she thought would be safe (without specifying it).

"When the war in Gaza began about 10 months ago, no one thought we would reach this dangerous turning point," he added.

He explained that about 200 UNRWA team members were killed in Gaza, and "these are not just numbers, they are our colleagues and friends, including teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers and technicians, who spent their lives serving the community."

The UN Commissioner pointed out that many of them were killed with their families, and others were killed while performing their duties.

He stressed that this is "the largest loss of people killed in a single conflict or natural disaster since the founding of the United Nations, a reality that the world must not accept."

Lazzarini called on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to hold each and every one of those killed fully accountable, saying they owe it to their families, friends, colleagues and the wider humanitarian community.

The Israeli army has repeatedly targeted UNRWA headquarters and schools housing displaced persons during its ongoing war on the Strip. The UN agency has also been subjected to harsh criticism from Israeli officials and accusations that a number of its employees participated in the October 7 attacks on settlements adjacent to Gaza, which were later proven false.

On Monday, the Israeli Knesset approved in the first reading three bills declaring UNRWA a "terrorist organization," banning its work in Israel, and stripping its employees of their immunity, which caused a wave of widespread condemnation.