Israeli Airstrike Hits UN School Sheltering Displaced Palestinians in Gaza, Killing Dozens
In a tragic turn of events, an Israeli airstrike on Thursday targeted a United Nations school complex in central Gaza that had become a shelter for thousands of displaced Palestinians, as well as Hamas militants, according to Israel. The strike resulted in the deaths of dozens of people, including women and children, as reported by Gazan health officials.
The strike is part of a deadly surge of fighting in central Gaza, where Israeli forces have launched an offensive against what they describe as a renewed insurgency by Hamas. Of the 40 people killed in the attack, 14 were children and nine were women, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The strike hit a compound operated by UNRWA, the main U.N. body that aids Palestinians in Gaza, where about 6,000 displaced Palestinians were seeking shelter.
The Israeli military stated that its fighter jets targeted three classrooms in the school building that held Palestinian militants affiliated with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Israeli forces claimed they had postponed the strike twice to reduce civilian casualties. However, the exact toll and circumstances surrounding the attack could not be independently verified.
The strike has sparked outrage and calls for investigation from various international bodies. The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell Fontelles, called for an independent investigation into the Israeli strike. B’Tselem, a leading Israeli human rights group, suggested that the attack on the school shelter could be a war crime.
As the conflict in Gaza continues to escalate, with cease-fire talks at a standstill, the situation for civilians in the region remains dire. The Biden administration has dispatched officials to mediate talks between Israel and Hamas, but the violence shows no signs of abating. The toll on civilians, especially those seeking refuge in UN facilities, continues to rise, with hundreds of thousands of Gazans facing food and water shortages in temporary camps.
The United Nations’ human rights office expressed shock over the Israeli strike, stating that it suggests a failure to comply with international humanitarian law. The agency reiterated the importance of upholding basic principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution in attacks.
The devastating impact of the conflict in Gaza underscores the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to prevent further loss of life and suffering among civilians caught in the crossfire.
