UN Observes Minute’s Silence for 101 Staff Killed in Gaza 

Protesters take part in a rally in support of Palestinians, in front of the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, 11 November 2023. (EPA)
Protesters take part in a rally in support of Palestinians, in front of the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, 11 November 2023. (EPA)
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UN Observes Minute’s Silence for 101 Staff Killed in Gaza 

Protesters take part in a rally in support of Palestinians, in front of the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, 11 November 2023. (EPA)
Protesters take part in a rally in support of Palestinians, in front of the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, 11 November 2023. (EPA)

United Nations workers observed a minute's silence on Monday to honor the more than 100 employees killed in Gaza since the Israel-Hamas war began last month as UN flags flew at half-mast.

Staff at UN offices in Geneva bowed their heads as a candle was lit in memory of the 101 employees of UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) killed in the Israeli assault on Gaza.

"This is the highest number of aid workers killed in the history of our organization in such a short time," said Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations in Geneva.

"We are gathered here today, united in this very symbolic location, to pay respect to our brave colleagues who sacrificed their lives while serving under the United Nations flag."

UNRWA has said that some staff members were killed while queuing for bread while others were killed along with their families in their homes in Israel's aerial and ground war against Hamas in response to the Oct. 7 cross-border assault by the group.

Israel blames Hamas for civilian deaths in the densely populated enclave, saying the group uses the population as human shields. Hamas denies the charge.

"I would like to say that we are really facing very challenging times for multilateralism, for the world," Valovaya said. "But the United Nations is more relevant than ever."

Established in 1949 following the first Arab-Israeli war, UNRWA provides public services including schools, healthcare and aid. Many of UNRWA's 5,000 staff working in Gaza are Palestinian refugees themselves.



Türkiye Arrests Swedish Journalist over Alleged Terrorist Connections to a Pro-Kurdish Group

People listen to speeches during a rally called by Republican People’s Party or (CHP) against the arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Türkiye, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
People listen to speeches during a rally called by Republican People’s Party or (CHP) against the arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Türkiye, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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Türkiye Arrests Swedish Journalist over Alleged Terrorist Connections to a Pro-Kurdish Group

People listen to speeches during a rally called by Republican People’s Party or (CHP) against the arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Türkiye, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
People listen to speeches during a rally called by Republican People’s Party or (CHP) against the arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Türkiye, Saturday, March 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Turkish authorities said Sunday they arrested a Swedish journalist dispatched to cover ongoing nationwide protests on charges of terrorism and insulting the president.
Joakim Medin of the daily Dagens ETC was detained as he arrived at Istanbul airport on Thursday and placed under arrest on Friday on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “insulting the president.”
The Counter Disinformation Center, part of the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Department, said in a statement that Medin's arrest was “not over his journalism activities.”
The Center accused Medin of taking part in a rally in Stockholm on January 11, 2023 attended by supporters of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which included an effigy of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reported The Associated Press.
The PKK has waged a 40-year insurgency in Türkiye which has cost tens of thousands of lives and is designated a terrorist organization by Ankara and its Western allies. A peace initiative between the Turkish state and the PKK was initiated in October, and the organization declared a ceasefire at the beginning of March upon a call to do so by its imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan.
The Ankara Public Prosecutors Office launched an investigation into the 2023 Stockholm rally two days after it was held, and identified 15 suspects including Medin who had organized, participated or covered the event according to the Counter Disinformation Center.
It added that Medin also facilitated communication between the PKK and the press.
Over a dozen journalists have been detained in Türkiye this past week as part of a crackdown on media workers covering Türkiye’s largest protests in more than a decade.