UN non-essential staff to leave Gaza

JERUSALEM - The United Nations plans to evacuate non-essential foreign staff from the Gaza Strip because of the deteriorating security situation, a UN official says.

The official, speaking in Jerusalem on Thursday, said the move followed a decision to move Gaza up to security level "Phase Four" - one step below the maximum "Phase Five", which requires all international staff to leave.

Unrest surged in the Gaza Strip at the weekend. Four French aid workers and two local officials were briefly held hostage by gunmen demanding reforms. At least 18 people were wounded in later clashes.

"Stage Four was declared in New York in consultation with the people on the ground. Non-essential staff are being pulled out today," the official told Reuters.

He said that many staff were already on summer holidays so only a few would need to be evacuated.

The UN Relief and Works Agency, which cares for Palestinian refugees, said on Tuesday it was pulling out 20 staff who regularly have to cross into Israel. It said it feared they could be caught in crossfire near the border.

- REUTERS