The United Nations announced on Monday that it will "reduce its footprint" in the Gaza Strip following a deadly Israeli tank strike on one of its compounds last week.

The attack, which occurred on March 19, killed a Bulgarian U.N. staff member and injured five others, prompting the world body to temporarily withdraw approximately one-third of its 100 international staffers from the region.

U.N. Secretary-General spokesman Stéphane Dujarric confirmed the decision, citing heightened risks after Israel resumed its military offensive in Gaza last week. The renewed bombardment has claimed hundreds of Palestinian lives and coincided with Israel’s three-week blockade of food, medicine, aid, and other essential supplies to the territory’s population. "Based on the information currently available, the strikes on the site were caused by an Israeli tank," Dujarric said, marking the U.N.’s first direct attribution of the attack to Israel.

The Israeli military has denied responsibility for the explosion at the U.N. guesthouse in central Gaza, which took place a day after Israel broke a two-month ceasefire with a surprise assault across the Gaza Strip. The denial mirrors Israel’s previous rejections of accountability amid escalating violence in the region.

Despite the partial withdrawal, Dujarric emphasized that the U.N. "is not leaving Gaza." The organization will maintain its presence through approximately 13,000 national staff, primarily employed by UNRWA, the U.N. agency dedicated to Palestinian refugees. "The Organization has made the difficult decision to reduce its footprint in Gaza, even as humanitarian needs soar," he added, underscoring the dire circumstances facing the enclave.

The announcement reflects growing concerns over the safety of humanitarian operations in Gaza as the conflict intensifies, leaving the U.N. to balance its mission with the security of its personnel. (ILKHA)