Israel has launched a new air strike hitting a school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, claiming 18 lives, including six UN staff. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the attack targeted a Hamas command center located inside the “Al Jaouni” school, which Israel said was used by the Palestinian Islamist movement to plan and carry out attacks against Israeli targets. The UN strongly condemned the attack.
UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reported that the recent bombing was the fifth attack on the same school since the conflict began. “We condemn all airstrikes targeting civilians and United Nations facilities,” Dujarric stated. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the incident as “totally unacceptable,” emphasized the importance of adhering to international humanitarian law, and called for an immediate end to such violations.
The World Health Organization has also strongly condemned the attack. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that “the massacre in Gaza must end” and criticized the repeated bombings of hospitals, schools, and shelters, which have resulted in civilian and humanitarian worker casualties. Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner General, described the assault as “an endless and senseless carnage, day after day.” He confirmed that the latest attack has increased the number of UNRWA staff killed in Gaza to 220 since the conflict began.
Jordan has also condemned the Israeli attack. Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Sufyan al Qudah described the action as a “violation of international law” and urged the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to intervene and protect the Palestinian people. Al Qudah emphasized that bombing a UN school constitutes a new “war crime” by Israel.
In response, Israel has consistently accused Hamas of using UN schools and facilities as cover for its military operations, alleging that the group exploits civilian institutions and the local population as “human shields.” Israeli authorities claimed they have taken “many precautions” to minimize civilian harm, including the use of precision munitions.
More than 100 Killed and Dozens Wounded in an Israeli strike on a Gaza School
Earlier this month, another air strike that grabbed the heading was on a Gaza school.More than 100 Palestinians were killed and dozens were injured in an Israeli strike on a Gaza school sheltering people with disabilities.
The strikes hit the school when people were offering dawn prayers. However, there was no immediate information from the Gaza health authorities.
According to the reports of the Gaza civil defense agency, the death toll from the strike has reached more than 90. Videos from the sites revealed body parts shattered on the ground and babies being carried away. Empty food tins lay in a puddle of blood, and burned furniture lay amid the debris.
