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Palestinian protesters attack UN compound in Gaza

By Andrew V. Pestano
Palestinian protesters attack the offices of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process in reaction to the decision of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency to suspend an aid program for Gaza residents displaced by last summer's war, in Gaza City, on Jan. 28. Some 100,000 people remain homeless after July-August conflict with Israel. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI
1 of 5 | Palestinian protesters attack the offices of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process in reaction to the decision of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency to suspend an aid program for Gaza residents displaced by last summer's war, in Gaza City, on Jan. 28. Some 100,000 people remain homeless after July-August conflict with Israel. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI | License Photo

GAZA, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Protesters climbed the walls of the United Nations compound in Gaza and damaged property on Wednesday.

The protest was announced beforehand and initiated by the U.N.'s decision to halt aid funding to Palestinians who need to rebuild after the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict.

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The death toll for the conflict was more than 2,100 Palestinians, mostly civilians, about 67 Israeli soldiers and six Israeli civilians.

The U.N. Relief and Works Agency has only received $135 million of the $720 million it needs to rebuild damaged or destroyed Palestinian homes.

U.N. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Process Robert Serry expressed his "deep concern" about the attack.

"Pending a full transfer of security responsibilities to the legitimate Palestinian Authority, we continue to hold Hamas fully responsible for the security and safety of all United Nations personnel and operations in Gaza," Serry said.

No U.N. personnel were harmed in the protests.

Serry said that the situation in Gaza has become "extremely volatile again" and will likely continue to deteriorate. The U.N. is conducting a review of its operations in Gaza due to increased violence.

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