12-9-2024 (GAZA STRIP) A devastating Israeli strike on a United Nations-run school in Gaza has ignited a firestorm of international criticism, as the death toll in the beleaguered territory continues to mount. The attack on the Al-Jawni school in Nuseirat, which had been converted into a shelter for displaced Palestinians, claimed the lives of 18 people, including six UN staff members.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, has drawn sharp condemnation from world leaders and humanitarian organisations alike. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres labelled the strike as “totally unacceptable”, while the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, expressed outrage at what he described as a “disregard of the basic principles” of international humanitarian law.
UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, confirmed that the attack resulted in the highest death toll among its team in a single incident. The agency’s spokesperson, Juliette Touma, revealed that the shelter manager and other team members providing assistance to displaced individuals were among those killed.
The Israeli military defended its actions, stating that it had conducted a “precise strike” on Hamas militants within the school grounds. However, this claim has been met with scepticism and calls for an independent investigation. The Israeli government spokesman, David Mencer, argued that the school was “no longer a school” and had become “a legitimate target” due to its alleged use by Hamas for launching attacks.
This justification has done little to quell international criticism. Germany, a long-standing ally of Israel, joined the chorus of disapproval, emphasising that “humanitarian aid workers must never be victims of rockets”. The United States, Israel’s primary backer, urged its ally to protect humanitarian sites.
The attack has further strained the already tense relationship between Israel and UNRWA. The UN agency, which coordinates nearly all aid into Gaza, has been grappling with a crisis since Israel accused a dozen of its 30,000 employees of involvement in the October 7 Hamas attacks that sparked the current conflict.
As survivors sifted through the rubble, recovering bodies and personal belongings, the human cost of the ongoing war was starkly evident. One survivor described the scene as “hell”, saying they had to step over “shredded limbs” in the aftermath of the strike.
The incident at Al-Jawni school is part of a broader pattern of violence that has engulfed Gaza since the conflict began. According to the Gaza health ministry, at least 41,118 people have been killed in the territory since Israel launched its military campaign in response to the Hamas attack on October 7, which claimed 1,205 lives in Israel.
Despite months of ceasefire negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, there appears to be no end in sight to the bloodshed. A Hamas delegation met with Qatari and Egyptian mediators in Doha on Wednesday, but there were no signs of a breakthrough.
