Israel kill women and children in strikes on multiple schools in Gaza. Source: UN School Photo.
Israeli military strikes on schools sheltering displaced Palestinians have killed dozens of people, including women and children.
The weekend attacks targeted a United Nation-run school on Saturday — where at least 16 people died — and another school in western Gaza on Sunday, where at least four Palestinians were killed.
“Another day. Another month. Another school hit,” said UNRWA’s chief Philippe Lazzarini on social media.
“Once again, @UNRWA school hit by the Israeli Forces. The school, in the Middle Areas, was home to nearly 2,000 internally displaced, dozens of casualties were reported.”
The Government Media Office released a statement reporting that more than 75 people were injured in the attack on al-Jaouni school in central Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp.
The Nuseirat facility is run by the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
UN spokesperson Stephanie Dujarric said secretary-general Antonio Guterres condemned the strike.
“He underscores that UN premises are inviolable, including during armed conflict and must be protected by all parties at all times,” said Dujarric.
“The secretary-general calls on all parties to respect and protect civilians.”
According to a hospital press reporter, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital received at least 33 people dead following the strikes, including 14 children and nine women.
Israeli military have justified their attacks on the schools, claiming they were targeting compounds holding Hamas militants who were using the schools as a shelter. They have not provided evidence to back this claim.
Israeli military spokesperson Lt Col Peter Lerner said 20–30 fighters were killed at the school in Nuseirat. He was unable to provide a death toll estimate on civilian casualties from the strike.
The Israeli military ordered the “immediate” evacuation of Gaza city’s western areas, including the Tuffah, Daraj, and the Old City neighbourhoods, sending thousands of displaced Palestinians to flee the violence.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement listing non-negotiable demands ahead of ceasefire talks in Egypt and Qatar.
Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least 38,153 people since 7 October.
