An Israeli airstrike on a central Gaza school used as a shelter for displaced Palestinians resulted in the deaths of 14 individuals, including six UN staff members. The school in Nuseirat, Gaza, was hit twice during the attack. The UN agency Unrwa reported that this was the highest death toll among its staff in a single incident.
Israel claimed the strike was targeting terrorists inside a Hamas command-and-control center on the school grounds. However, the Hamas government media office stated that about 5,000 displaced people were taking shelter at the school at the time of the attack.
Unrwa noted that the school had been hit five times since the conflict began and housed approximately 12,000 displaced individuals, mostly women and children. The Israeli military defended its actions, stating measures were taken to reduce civilian casualties.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the situation in Gaza “totally unacceptable.” The war between Israel and Hamas, which began last year, has resulted in over 41,000 Palestinian fatalities. International efforts to mediate a ceasefire have been unsuccessful, with the latest communication from Hamas agreeing to an immediate ceasefire based on a US proposal without new conditions.
The ongoing conflict has seen several civilian casualties, including the deaths of six UN staff members. The Israeli military has been accused of using precision weapons and intelligence to minimize harm to civilians, while Hamas denies hiding among displaced individuals. Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire continue as the violence persists in Gaza.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com
