Gaza: The death toll of UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) staff in the Gaza Strip has risen to 142, the organization said on Sunday.

“As of 23 December, UNRWA confirms that an additional six colleagues have been killed since the beginning of the war, bringing the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed to 142,” the organization said.

On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 20,400 people have been killed so far in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said.

On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1.