Overnight, a tragic incident unfolded in central Gaza as at least 52 people lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike on a UN school and compound serving as a shelter for displaced Palestinians. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claim they were targeting Hamas militants within the school, but these assertions remain unconfirmed.
The strike occurred amidst escalating ground and air assaults by Israeli forces in the heart of the Gaza Strip, with the death toll continuing to rise. The UNRWA school, where thousands of displaced Palestinians sought refuge, became the site of devastation as the strike hit while victims were asleep.
Reports from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reveal that among the 40 casualties, a significant number are women and children, with the youngest victim being just four years old. The IDF maintains that their target was Hamas militants using the school for military purposes, alleging they were planning attacks against Israeli troops.
Evidence suggests that U.S.-made munitions, specifically GBU-39 small-diameter bombs, were employed in the strike. Fragments of these munitions were discovered at the scene, mirroring a similar devastating incident that claimed 45 lives in Western Rafah recently.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, condemned the use of UN premises for military actions, emphasizing the need to hold those responsible for such attacks accountable. The shelter, accommodating around 6,000 individuals at the time of the strike, underscores the urgency to protect civilian spaces from becoming targets of conflict.
