The ongoing Gaza crisis took a tragic turn as a recent Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza resulted in the deaths of six UNRWA employees, the agency confirmed. This marked the highest death toll among UNRWA staff in a single incident, raising grave concerns about the safety of volunteers working in the conflict-ridden region.
The incident occurred at the al-Jaouni school in Nuseirat refugee camp, which was serving as a shelter for thousands of displaced Palestinians. Both Palestinian officials and the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported at least 14 people killed in the strike. The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the strike, stating they targeted “terrorists” planning attacks from within the school. They insisted they took “strong measures” to minimize civilian casualties.
This wasn’t the first time the al-Jaouni school was targeted by Israeli forces. In fact, it marks the fifth such attack in the past 11 months. On July 16, several people were reported killed after Israel struck several structures at the school, which they claimed were being used by Hamas. Following that incident, UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric condemned “all air strikes that target civilians and those that also target UN facilities”.
Videos of the aftermath of Wednesday’s strike depict scenes of devastation. Hundreds of people inspected the heavily damaged ground floor of one wing of the school, alongside the remains of a neighboring structure. Videos online also showed ambulances transporting wounded men, women, and children to the al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah. A medical source at the al-Awda hospital in Nuseirat camp reported receiving nine bodies from the strike, while six others were taken to the al-Aqsa hospital. The Palestinian Civil Defence spokesman Mahmoud Bassal confirmed a death toll of 14, including the daughter of a rescue worker operating in the region.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) stated they took numerous steps to ensure the safety of civilians during the strike, including using “precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence”. They accused Hamas of “systematically abusing civilian infrastructure” in violation of international law. However, Gaza’s Hamas-run government media office described the strike as a “brutal massacre”.
In the wake of the tragedy, UNRWA urged all parties to the conflict to “never use schools or the areas around them for military or fighting purposes.”
