UN Staff Member Killed in West Bank Operation

Sufyan Jaber Abed Jawwad, a United Nations employee, was killed by a sniper during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank, marking the first death of a UNRWA staff member in the territory in over a decade. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed Jawwad was involved in terrorist activities, alleging he was throwing explosives that posed a threat to their troops, while the UN agency described him as a victim shot while having coffee on his rooftop. His death is part of a broader escalation in military actions, which have resulted in nearly 700 Palestinian deaths since October according to various reports. Jawwad's killing sparked condemnation from Jordan's Foreign Ministry, calling it a 'heinous crime'. The incident follows the deaths of other UN staffers in Gaza, with protests erupting in response to the ongoing violence. The ongoing military operations have drawn criticism from international figures, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has urged fundamental changes in Israeli military conduct in the region.