An Israeli airstrike on a school in southern Gaza, that was sheltering Palestinian refugees, has killed at least 30 people. The al-Awdah school entrance was targeted in the attack in the town of Abbasan, east of Khan Younis, injuring at least 53 people. According to Palestinian medics, women and children made up the majority of the victims.
The Israeli military's statement
The strike was carried out on Tuesday, according to the Israeli military, to target a "terrorist from Hamas's military wing" who was near the school. Additionally, it declared that it had employed "precise munition" to target the terrorist and that it was looking into reports of civilian casualties close to the school.
UNRWA's stance
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, said, "Since the war began, two-thirds of UNRWA schools in Gaza have been hit, some were bombed out, and many severely damaged." He wrote on X, "Schools have gone from safe places of education and hope for children to overcrowded shelters and often ending up a place of death & misery."
“The blatant disregard of international humanitarian law cannot become the new normal."
The witnesses claimed that the attack killed women and children and caused large-scale destruction. Body parts were scattered all over the place, and many other people who were camped out outside the school also sustained injuries.
Previous attacks on schools
In just four days, there have been four attacks on or close to schools that were providing refuge to displaced people. The Israeli military said that it had launched the initial three strikes because Hamas fighters, police officers, and politicians were utilizing them as bases of operations.
- July 6: According to the health ministry administered by Hamas, 16 people were killed in an attack on a UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) school on Saturday in the centre of Gazan city Nuseirat refugee camp. Approximately 2,000 displaced individuals were taking refuge there.
- July 7: Local reports stated that a top official of the Hamas government was among the three individuals killed in a hit on a church-run school in Gaza City on Sunday.
- July 8: A strike on another Unrwa-run school in Nuseirat on Monday night reportedly left several people injured.
On October 7, the Israeli military started its operation in Gaza to demolish Hamas. Since then, more than 38,240 people have died in Gaza, according to the health ministry operated by Hamas in the region.
Inputs by Agencies
Image Source: Multiple Agencies
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