In a tragic escalation of violence in Gaza, an Israeli military strike targeted a school being used as a shelter for displaced Palestinians, resulting in the deaths of at least four people. This incident marks the second attack on such facilities in just two days, further intensifying global condemnation and raising serious humanitarian concerns.
The strike, confirmed by the Israeli military, occurred in Gaza City at the Holy Family school complex, which, according to Israeli authorities, was allegedly utilized by Hamas as a hideout and housed a weapons manufacturing facility. Among the casualties was Ihab al-Ghusain, the Hamas government’s deputy labor minister, as reported by Gaza’s civil defense agency.
This deadly assault follows closely on the heels of another strike on a UN-run school in the Nuseirat refugee camp, which claimed the lives of 16 individuals according to Gaza’s health ministry. The United Nations has vehemently denounced these attacks, emphasizing that such facilities are meant to serve as safe havens for civilians fleeing the ongoing conflict, not as military targets.
UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) expressed outrage at the repeated assaults on its premises, highlighting that over half of its facilities in Gaza have been impacted during the months-long conflict, with some facilities hit multiple times. Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA’s chief, took to social media to condemn the attacks, stating, “Another day. Another month. Another school hit.”
Juliette Touma, spokesperson for UNRWA, underscored the gravity of the situation, revealing that 194 agency workers have lost their lives due to the conflict, with two more casualties reported just recently. She emphasized the unprecedented scale of damage to UN facilities, denouncing the disregard for international humanitarian law in the ongoing conflict.
Since its onset in October, the conflict has led to devastating human losses on both sides, with civilian casualties mounting. Israeli authorities report over 1,195 deaths in southern Israel, predominantly civilians, while Gaza’s health ministry records at least 38,153 deaths, also mostly civilians, due to Israeli military operations.
The international community continues to call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urges all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians, respect humanitarian law, and seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Gaza.
Sources By Agencies
