Six UN aid workers among 18 killed in Israeli strike on Gaza school

Israel’s Airstrike on Gaza School Shelter: A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds

In a tragic turn of events, an Israeli airstrike hit a United Nations (UN) school sheltering displaced civilians in central Gaza. The attack claimed the lives of at least 18 people, including the shelter’s manager and five UNRWA staff members, further intensifying the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The school, located in Nuseirat, was home to around 12,000 displaced individuals, primarily women and children. According to the UN, this was the fifth time the school had been targeted since the conflict began. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, expressed his outrage, calling the assault “totally unacceptable” and a blatant violation of international laws meant to protect civilians during war. He urged for an immediate halt to these violations of international humanitarian law.

Josep Borrell, the European Union’s top diplomat, echoed these sentiments, condemning the bombing and emphasizing the need for the international community to uphold civilian protection in war zones. Germany’s foreign ministry also criticized the attack, calling on Israel to safeguard UN staff and humanitarian workers in Gaza.

UN Schools: Safe Havens Under Siege

UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, has converted numerous schools in Gaza into shelters, offering refuge to the population displaced by ongoing airstrikes and ground operations. An estimated 90% of Gaza’s population is displaced, with families constantly moving in search of safety. Despite their purpose as shelters, these schools have been bombed repeatedly, with Israel claiming that Hamas militants were using them as command centers and using civilians as human shields. However, no evidence was provided to substantiate these claims in this latest incident.

The airstrikes on Wednesday night marked the deadliest assault on UNRWA personnel since the war began. The agency revealed that 220 of its staff members have been killed in the conflict so far, including the shelter manager and team members providing aid to displaced individuals. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, took to social media to highlight the ongoing disregard for humanitarian staff, facilities, and operations.

The Toll on Gaza’s Civilians and Infrastructure

The devastation in Gaza is staggering. A UN survey conducted in July revealed that more than 80% of the schools in the region had been either directly hit or severely damaged, necessitating major reconstruction efforts. As a result, over 650,000 children in Gaza have been unable to continue their education for nearly a year.

Despite the escalating attacks, families continue to seek refuge in the bombed-out schools, as alternative shelter options are virtually non-existent. Large portions of Gaza have been reduced to rubble, and overcrowded tent camps offer little relief for the thousands displaced by the fighting.

At the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Gaza, medical workers scrambled to care for children injured in the bombing. “Most of the people took refuge in schools, and the schools were bombed,” said Basil Amarneh, a local health worker. “Where will people go?”

Rising Casualties and Wounded

The airstrike on the school was part of a broader series of attacks that also targeted a family home in Khan Younis earlier that day. Six siblings, aged between 21 months and 21 years, were killed alongside five others in the strike.

With the war now in its 11th month, the death toll in Gaza has soared to over 41,000, the majority being civilians, including women, children, and the elderly. Health authorities report that over 95,000 people have been wounded, with approximately a quarter suffering from life-changing injuries, such as amputations. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that at least 22,500 people in Gaza will require long-term rehabilitation services, which may be difficult to provide given the destruction of much of the region’s healthcare infrastructure.

Rik Peeperkorn, WHO’s representative for the Palestinian territories, emphasized the dual crisis facing Gaza: a surge in rehabilitation needs occurring simultaneously with the decimation of the health system. Many hospitals and healthcare centers have been damaged or completely destroyed, further complicating the already dire situation.

Calls for Ceasefire Amidst Ongoing Violence

The conflict erupted following Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October of last year, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the capture of 250 hostages. Efforts to broker a ceasefire have repeatedly faltered, with both sides accusing the other of sabotaging peace efforts.

Hamas recently announced its willingness to implement an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, based on a U.S. proposal presented in June. However, this has yet to bring an end to the violence, leaving the civilian population caught in the crossfire.