U.N. suspends Gaza operations

Jan 8 - United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) says it will suspend its operations in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip due to Israeli misconduct.

Israel also came under sharp Red Cross criticism that it was delaying access to casualties.

Gaza medical officials and the Red Crescent recovered 35 more bodies from battle areas of north and east Gaza, raising the reported Palestinian death toll to 765.

At least 11 Israelis have been killed, eight of them soldiers, including four hit by "friendly" fire, since the Israeli assault began on Dec. 27.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNRWA SPOKESPERSON CHRISTOPHER GUNNESS:

"I can confirm that UNRWA has suspended its operations in Gaza because of staff security. We've had shooting of a driver in a convoy clearly marked as a U.N. vehicle. There have been a number of attacks in which U.N. facilities have been hit with direct hits and others. We've had no choice but to suspend our operations until we can get guarantees of the security of our staff. We have lost ... our staff have been killed, we've had no other choice."