A USAID Contractor Fatally Struck in Gaza Airstrike, as Stated by Colleagues

Hani Jnena, a 33-year-old U.S. Agency for International Development contractor, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on November 5. He was killed alongside his wife, their two young daughters aged 2 and 4, and her family.

Hani Jnena was an internet-technology worker who had fled his neighborhood in Gaza City with his family to escape airstrikes. Tragically, he was killed while sheltering with his in-laws. His employer was a partner for USAID in the region.

The U.S. development agency, USAID, expressed its condolences and emphasized the need for greater protection for humanitarian workers involved in conflict zones like Gaza.

Hani Jnena’s death occurred during a more than two-month-long war between Israel and Hamas. This period saw extensive civilian casualties and the deaths of numerous local and international aid workers.

The conflict in Gaza has led to the deaths of many humanitarian workers, including over 100 U.N. workers, highlighting the dangerous conditions they face while providing aid in conflict zones.

Health officials in Hamas-run Gaza have reported over 17,000 deaths, with two-thirds being women and children, as a result of the Israeli offensive in response to a Hamas assault.

USAID employees have been notably vocal in their objections to U.S. policy supporting Israel’s continued offensive, with some participating in open letters criticizing decisions like President Joe Biden’s choice not to call for a cease-fire.