Hamas calls attack on UN staff 'heinous crime'

Hamas has urged the international community to take a clear position on Israel's targeting of aid workers in Gaza, calling Wednesday's attack on UN personnel a "heinous crime".

"The latest heinous crime the Israeli occupation carried out was the targeting of a building in central Gaza's Deir al-Balah used by foreign workers in UN agencies, and resulted in the killing of one international employee and the injury of five others," Hamas said in a statement.

"This crime is not only a blatant violation of international humanitarian law but also part of the occupation’s systematic policy of targeting civilians and aid workers," the group added. 

"We call on the international community and the United Nations and its institutions to take a clear and decisive stand against this heinous crime, condemn the fascist actions of terrorist Netanyahu's government, and work seriously to hold it accountable for its crimes against humanity," the statement said.

"We also emphasise the urgent need for immediate action in every possible way to provide relief to our people in Gaza and break the unjust siege imposed on them."