UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced Monday that 136 UN employees were killed while serving in 2025, including 80 staff members in Gaza. Speaking at a memorial ceremony, he said the victims came from 32 countries, comprising 97 civilian staff and 39 peacekeepers.  

He noted that 80 of the dead were working with UNRWA in Gaza, and that the toll in Gaza exceeded any loss the UN has suffered in a single conflict or disaster in its history. Some were killed alongside their families in homes or shelters, while others died while performing their duties in offices, shelters, and communities they served.  

Guterres stressed that targeting UN staff, peacekeepers, and humanitarian workers constitutes a violation of international law.  

A ceasefire was declared in Gaza after two years of Israel’s war of extermination, which left 90% of civilian infrastructure destroyed. The UN estimates rebuilding Gaza will cost around $70 billion.