Israeli Strike On UN School In Refugee Camp Kills Dozens
- 6,000 displaced people were sheltering at school
- At least 35 died in the hit
Commissioner General of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, says about 35 persons died in the Unrwa school in Nuseirat refugee camp which was struck by Israel overnight.
According to him, the UNRWA School was sheltering over 6,000 displaced Palestinians when the incident took place, describing it as “another horrific day in Gaza”.
In a message that did not completely rule out Israeli claims that Hamas fighters were also in the vicinity of the strike, he said the hit occurred “without prior warning to the displaced or UNRWA” and that no less than 35 people had been killed.
The statement further said; “Claims that armed groups may have been inside the shelter are shocking. We are however unable to verify these claims.
“Attacking, targeting or using UN buildings for military purposes are a blatant disregard of International Humanitarian law. UN staff, premises and operations must be protected at all times.”
Since the war in Gaza began, over 180 UNRWA buildings have been hit with more than 450 displaced people killed in the process.
“Unrwa shares the coordinates of all its facilities (including this school) with the Israeli Army and other parties to the conflict.
“Targeting UN premises or using them for military purposes cannot become the new norm. This must stop and all those responsible must be held accountable”, the statement said.
In a related development, UNRWA says death toll from Israeli strike on Nuseirat school expected to rise
Juliette Touma, director of communications for the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees, hinted that the number of those reported killed in the Israeli attack on a school administered by the organisation in Nuseirat refugee camp school is at least 35, and could climb as high as 45.
Touma says UNRWA cannot confirm the number at the time of this report, even as the previous death toll was put at 38, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.
