An Israeli airstrike hit an UNRWA school in the Gaza Strip‘s Nuseirat refugee camp on Wednesday night, killing 18 people, including six UN staff, in the deadliest attack on a UN facility since the Israel-Hamas conflict began.
The UN Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, said the attack was the highest death toll among its staff in a single incident. Two airstrikes hit the school and its surroundings in Nuseirat.
“Among those killed were the UNRWA shelter manager and other team members providing assistance to refugees,” the UN agency told X.
Earlier, the Israeli military said its air force carried out a precision strike on terrorists operating in a Hamas command and control center on the school grounds, without elaborating on the results or the identities of those targeted.
Hamas’s state media office said some 5,000 refugees were sheltering in the school when it came under attack on Wednesday (11/9) night.
“The school has been attacked five times since the war began. It is home to some 12,000 refugees, mostly women and children,” UNRWA said in a statement.
Read also: UN Demands Israel Ensure Humanitarian Organizations Work Effectively
Israeli forces have attacked several similar schools in recent months. The Israeli military said Palestinian militants were operating there and hiding among displaced civilians. Hamas denied the claim.
The attack on the al-Jaouni school in the Nuseirat refugee camp wounded at least 18 others.
An IDF spokesman said that prior to the strike a series of measures were taken to reduce the likelihood of civilian casualties, including the use of precision weapons, the use of aerial imagery and additional intelligence information.
Also read: Majority of UN-UNRWA Schools in Gaza Strip Destroyed
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday night that what was happening in Gaza was completely unacceptable. “Six of our colleagues at @UNRWA were among those killed,” Guterres said in a post on X.
The Israeli military says it is taking steps to reduce the risk of harm to civilians. It says at least a third of Palestinian fatalities in Gaza were militants.
They accused Hamas of using Palestinian civilians as human shields, a claim Hamas denies.
Read also: UN Responds to Israeli Spokesperson’s Dangerous Statement on UNRWA Chief
Earlier, an airstrike hit a house near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, killing 11 people, including six brothers and sisters aged between 21 months and 21 years.
The war in Gaza is now in its 11th month, with more than 41,000 Palestinians killed, according to the territory’s health ministry. International efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and the militant group Hamas have repeatedly stalled.
The war was sparked on October 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages.
Hamas said its negotiators reaffirmed its readiness to implement an immediate ceasefire with Israel in Gaza based on previous US proposals without new conditions from any party. The group added that its negotiating team, led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya, had met with mediators in Doha to discuss the latest developments in Gaza.
CIA Director William Burns, who is also the chief U.S. negotiator on Gaza, said a more detailed ceasefire proposal would be made in the coming days. An earlier proposal put forward by President Joe Biden in June called for a three-phase ceasefire in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages.
But issues remain, including control of the Philadelphia corridor, a narrow strip of land on Gaza’s border with Egypt. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defied domestic protests and criticism from Biden to vow that Israel will not relinquish control of the strategic corridor.
In Gaza, an attack Tuesday night on a house in the Jabaliya urban refugee camp in the north of the territory killed nine people, including six women and children, according to the Health Ministry and civil defense.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported the deaths of two soldiers on Tuesday night when an army helicopter crashed in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The military said Wednesday that the helicopter crashed while landing and eight other soldiers were wounded.
The helicopter was carrying out a life-saving operation to evacuate an injured soldier when it crashed.
“An investigation committee has been appointed to look into the details of the accident,” Major General Tomer Bar said in a statement, calling it an operational accident. (The Guardian/Z-2)
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– What were the implications of the Israeli airstrike on the UNRWA school for humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza?
Table of Contents
Israel’s Airstrike on UNRWA School in Gaza Refugee Camp Leaves 18 Dead, Including 6 UN Staff
An Israeli airstrike on an UNRWA school in the Gaza Strip’s Nuseirat refugee camp on Wednesday night has resulted in the deaths of 18 people, including six UN staff members, in the deadliest attack on a UN facility since the Israel-Hamas conflict began. The UN Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, reported that the attack was the highest death toll among its staff in a single incident.
Unprovoked Attack on a School Sheltering Refugees
Two airstrikes hit the school and its surroundings in Nuseirat, which was sheltering around 5,000 refugees, mostly women and children, according to Hamas’s state media office. The UNRWA school has been attacked five times since the war began, and is home to some 12,000 refugees.
Condemnation from the International Community
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, stating that what was happening in Gaza was “completely unacceptable.” The international community has repeatedly called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, but efforts have been met with resistance.
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
The war in Gaza has now entered its 11th month, with more than 41,000 Palestinians killed, according to the territory’s health ministry. The conflict has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with thousands of civilians displaced and in need of aid.
Global Efforts to Broker a Ceasefire
International efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly stalled. The CIA Director, William Burns, has announced that a more detailed ceasefire proposal would be made in the coming days. However, issues remain, including control of the Philadelphia corridor, a narrow strip of land on Gaza’s border with Egypt.
Israeli Military’s Claim of Precision Strike
The Israeli military claims to have carried out a precision strike on terrorists operating in a Hamas command and control center on the school grounds, without elaborating on the results or the identities of those targeted. However, UNRWA has denied the presence of any military targets in the school.
Human Shields Allegation
The Israeli military has accused Hamas of using Palestinian civilians as human shields, a claim that Hamas denies. The international community has repeatedly called for the protection of civilians in conflict zones.
UNRWA’s Efforts to Provide Aid
UNRWA has been working tirelessly to provide aid to refugees in Gaza, despite the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict. The agency has set up shelters, provided food and medical aid, and worked to maintain access to education for Palestinian children.
Demands for Accountability
The international community is demanding accountability for the attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers in Gaza. The UN has called for an immediate ceasefire and for all parties to respect international humanitarian law.
The Human Cost of War
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in devastating humanitarian consequences, with thousands of civilians killed or injured, and many more displaced. The attack on the UNRWA school is a stark reminder of the human cost of war and the need for immediate action to protect civilians and humanitarian workers.
Keywords: Israel, Gaza Strip, UNRWA, airstrike, school, refugees, humanitarian crisis, ceasefire, international community, accountability.
Meta Description: An Israeli airstrike on a UNRWA school in the Gaza Strip’s Nuseirat refugee camp has killed 18 people, including 6 UN staff members. The attack is the deadliest on a UN facility since the Israel-Hamas conflict began.
Header Tags:
H1: Israel’s Airstrike on UNRWA School in Gaza Refugee Camp Leaves 18 Dead, Including 6 UN Staff
H2: Unprovoked Attack on a School Sheltering Refugees
H2: Condemnation from the International Community
H2: Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
H2: Global Efforts to Broker a Ceasefire
H2: Israeli Military’s Claim of Precision Strike
H2: Human Shields Allegation
H2: UNRWA’s Efforts to Provide Aid
H2: Demands for Accountability
H2: The Human Cost of War
– What were the consequences of the airstrike on the UNRWA school in Gaza?
Israel’s Airstrike on UNRWA School in Gaza Refugee Camp Kills 18
The recent escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip has resulted in a devastating airstrike on a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) school in the Nuseirat refugee camp. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday night, has claimed the lives of 18 people, including six UN staff members, making it the deadliest attack on a UN facility since the Israel-Hamas conflict began.
UNRWA School Targeted
The UNRWA school, which provides shelter to thousands of refugees, was struck by two airstrikes, resulting in the deaths of 18 people, including the UNRWA shelter manager and other team members who were providing assistance to refugees. The school, which has been attacked five times since the war began, is home to some 12,000 refugees, mostly women and children.
Israeli Military’s Response
The Israeli military has claimed that its air force carried out a precision strike on terrorists operating in a Hamas command and control center on the school grounds. However, they did not elaborate on the results or the identities of those targeted. The Israeli military has also accused Hamas of using Palestinian civilians as human shields, a claim that Hamas denies.
International Condemnation
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the attack, stating that what is happening in Gaza is “completely unacceptable.” The international community has also expressed outrage and concern over the escalating violence in the region.
Ongoing Conflict
The war in Gaza is now in its 11th month, with more than 41,000 Palestinians killed, according to the territory’s health ministry. International efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly stalled, with issues such as control of the Philadelphia corridor, a narrow strip of land on Gaza’s border with Egypt, remaining a major point of contention.
Ceasefire Efforts
Despite the challenges, ceasefire efforts continue, with CIA Director William Burns, the chief U.S. negotiator on Gaza, stating that a more detailed ceasefire proposal would be made in the coming days. Hamas has also reaffirmed its readiness to implement an immediate ceasefire with Israel based on previous US proposals without new conditions from any party.
Humanitarian Crisis
The ongoing conflict has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with thousands of Palestinians displaced and in need of assistance. The attack on the UNRWA school is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of the conflict on civilians, particularly women and children.
Keywords: Israel, Gaza Strip, UNRWA, Nuseirat refugee camp, Hamas, ceasefire, humanitarian crisis, Antonio Guterres, CIA Director William Burns, Philadelphia corridor.
Meta Description: An Israeli airstrike on a UNRWA school in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the Gaza Strip has killed 18 people, including six UN staff members. The attack is the deadliest on a UN facility since the Israel-Hamas conflict began.
Header Tags:
H1: Israel’s Airstrike on UNRWA School in Gaza Refugee Camp Kills 18
H2: UNRWA School Targeted
H2: Israeli Military’s Response
H2: International Condemnation
H2: Ongoing Conflict
H2: Ceasefire Efforts
* H2: Humanitarian Crisis
