A United Nations-operated school in Gaza, serving as a shelter for numerous displaced Palestinians, was targeted on Saturday, resulting in the tragic death of at least 24 individuals. Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), confirmed the incident and characterized the attacks as “cruel.” He emphasized the urgency of halting such assaults, stating that they should not become routine and called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, asserting that waiting any longer is not an option.
A graphic video of dead bodies strewn throughout the al-Fakhoora school and destroyed classrooms was released by Al Jazeera. As information continues to come in about the attack, Egypt and Qatar have blamed Israel’s military. Qatar asked for the United Nations to conduct an independent investigation into the targeted attacks on schools and hospitals.
UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma has stated that the total number of casualties remains uncertain as the situation evolves, and the responsible party for the violent destruction is yet to be determined. The Israeli military, in response to the incident, informed CNN that they are currently reviewing the details.
Tamara El Rifai, another spokesperson for UNRWA, described the event as “horrific,” emphasizing that civilians who sought refuge in a UN-protected building are now facing the consequences. She lamented the tragic reality that even in UN schools, people can’t find safety in Gaza.
The al-Fakhoora school had previously been struck on November 4, resulting in the death of at least 12 individuals and injuries to 54 others. Additionally, less than 24 hours before this incident, another UNRWA-run school in northern Gaza was hit, having provided shelter for 4,000 people. The situation remains deeply concerning as violence continues to affect civilian spaces in the region.