18 Killed in Israeli Strike on Gaza School Shelter Amid Ongoing Conflict
In a devastating airstrike on Wednesday, Israel bombed a UN school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 18 people, including six staff members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
The al-Jaouni school, located in the Nuseirat refugee camp, was home to approximately 12,000 displaced civilians, mostly women and children, fleeing the violence of the ongoing war.
Israel’s military said the strike targeted a Hamas “command and control centre” embedded within the school, asserting that the militant group had used the shelter for its operations. Although Israel stated that it took steps to minimize civilian casualties, the incident has drawn sharp criticism from international organizations and leaders, including the United Nations and the European Union.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the attack “totally unacceptable” and condemned it as a violation of international humanitarian law, which protects civilians in conflict zones. Similarly, EU diplomat Josep Borrell voiced outrage over the attack, urging respect for international laws aimed at safeguarding civilians.
The war, which began in October following Hamas-led attacks on Israel that left around 1,200 people dead, continues to cause immense suffering. Gaza’s health authorities report over 41,000 deaths in the territory since the conflict began, with the majority being civilians. Meanwhile, Israel maintains that Hamas routinely hides within civilian areas, turning schools, hospitals, and shelters into military targets.
UNRWA, which has repurposed its schools as shelters for Gaza’s displaced population, stated that this was the deadliest attack on its staff to date. The agency expressed deep concern over the mounting toll on its personnel and operations, highlighting that 220 of its staff members have been killed since the start of the conflict.
Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the violence shows little sign of abating, with negotiations between Hamas, Israel, and international mediators continuing to stall. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with more than 90% of the population displaced, and many struggling to find safe refuge from the violence.
With input from the Guardian, Al Jazeera, CBS News.
