The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has reported that six of its staff members were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting one of its schools in central Gaza.
According to Gaza’s Civil Defence spokesperson, Mahmud Bassal, the strike on al-Jaouni school in Nuseirat refugee camp claimed 18 lives. The school was being used as a shelter by thousands of displaced Palestinians.
Israel’s military stated that the strike was a “precise operation” aimed at terrorists planning attacks from the school, adding that efforts were made to minimize civilian casualties.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the attack amounted to “dramatic violations of international humanitarian law” in a post on X.
“This is a further example of the Hamas terrorist organisation’s systematic abuse of civilian infrastructure in violation of international law.”
Gaza’s Hamas-run government media office accused Israel of a “brutal massacre”.
Later, Unrwa said in a statement that two air strikes had hit the school and its surroundings, which were home to around 12,000 displaced people, mainly women and children.
“Among those killed was the manager of the Unrwa shelter and other team members providing assistance to displaced people,” it said.
The agency insisted that “schools and other civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times”, adding: “They are not a target.”
“We call on all parties to the conflict to never use schools or the areas around them for military or fighting purposes.”