The latest Israeli airstrike in Gaza has intensified concerns over escalating violence and the protection of civilians, particularly within UN-run facilities. An Israeli strike on the UNRWA-operated al-Jaouni school in Nuseirat refugee camp killed 18 people, including six UNRWA staff members, among them the shelter manager.
The strike was carried out by IDF while the school sheltered around 12,000 displaced people, primarily women and children. This marks the fifth time Israel hit this school since the conflict began 11 months ago. The UN condemned the attack as a severe violation of international humanitarian law, echoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ call to end the violence. “What’s happening in Gaza is totally unacceptable,” he stated.
Israel’s military reported that the strike was a “precise attack” targeting terrorists allegedly planning assaults from within the school. Israel’s continued killing of Gazan has sparked international outcry. UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini highlighted the “endless and senseless killing” in Gaza, noting that over 220 agency staff have died since the conflict began. He stressed the urgent need for accountability to maintain the relevance of international humanitarian law. “No one is safe in Gaza. Schools and other civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times,” UNRWA stated.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that Gaza’s healthcare system is near collapse due to Israeli airstrikes, with half of all essential medicines unavailable and critical shortages of insulin and vaccines. Over 528,000 children have received their first dose of a polio vaccine, with ongoing efforts to immunize more than 640,000 children under the age of ten. “More than 230 teams are on the ground trying to reach all children with the first batch of the polio vaccination,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.
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The UN and its partners are also responding to humanitarian needs in the West Bank, where over 620 people remain displaced following a 10-day Israeli security operation in Jenin and Tulkarm. The UN, together with other humanitarian organizations, has been coordinating the delivery of food, water, and medical supplies to those affected. The operation has left over 2,400 housing units damaged, with more than 100 rendered uninhabitable. Damaged infrastructure, including over 2.6 kilometers of water and sewage networks, has left 33,000 residents dealing with water shortages and sewage flooding.
The UN continues to call for the protection of civilians and adherence to international humanitarian law, while Israel continues to ignore the calls for protection of civilians.