UN says Israeli strike on Gaza school killed six of its staff

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Unrwa) has reported that six of its staff were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a school in central Gaza, which served as a shelter for displaced Palestinians. The strike occurred at al-Jaouni school in Nuseirat refugee camp, which was home to thousands seeking refuge from ongoing conflict. The total death toll from the incident reached 18, including women and children, according to Gaza's Civil Defence agency. The Israeli military justified the strike, stating it targeted "terrorists" who were planning attacks from within the school premises. The military emphasized efforts to minimize civilian harm by employing precise munitions and intelligence. However, the incident has drawn global condemnation. UN Secretary General António Guterres denounced the attack, labeling it a violation of international humanitarian law and calling for an immediate cessation of violence in Gaza. Unrwa expressed deep sorrow, noting that this was the deadliest single incident involving its staff since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October. The organization also pointed out that this was the fifth time the school had been struck in the last 11 months. It urged all parties to respect the protection of civilian infrastructure, particularly schools, which should never be used for military purposes.

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, criticized the international body's condemnation, asserting that Israel’s military actions are aimed at combating terrorists while accusing Hamas of using civilians as human shields. Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist group by Israel and several other nations, has denied using civilian sites like schools for military activities.

The Israeli offensive was launched following Hamas' deadly October 7 attack on southern Israel, where over 1,200 people were killed, and more than 250 were taken hostage. Since the start of the conflict, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has reported over 41,000 deaths. Footage from the aftermath of the strike showed extensive damage to the school and nearby buildings, with survivors describing the horrific scenes of human casualties. Ambulances transported the wounded to local hospitals, while families mourned the loss of their loved ones. Unrwa confirmed that two airstrikes hit the school and surrounding areas, with one of its shelter managers among the victims. ⚡ Image Credit: GettyImages