UNRWA regrets strike by Gaza teachers

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said on Thursday it regretted the general strike by teachers in its schools in the Gaza Strip. The strike was prompted by the UNRWA's Arab staff union to protest a decision which suspended the union head's work for three unpaid months. The strike, which deprived students of going to school, was "a shock" to the children in the coastal enclave who had been facing pressure and trauma due to war and siege, said a statement by the UNRWA. About 220,000 students did not attend school Thursday because their teachers went on a strike. The UNRWA said it had suspended the work of Suhil Al-Hendi, head of the Arab staff union, for violating the organization's internal rules and regulations. The strike will not affect the disciplinary measures against Al- Hendi, the UNRWA said. Al-Hendi said earlier that his work was halted for his participation in a meeting attended or organized by officials from Hamas, the Islamic movement that controls the Gaza Strip since 2007.