In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), UNRWA stated, "This is the highest death toll among our staff in a single incident." The airstrikes reportedly killed at least 34 people, including the shelter’s manager and other UNRWA team members.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the ongoing violence in Gaza. "What's happening in Gaza is totally unacceptable," he wrote on X, calling for an immediate halt to the violations of international humanitarian law.

The UNRWA school in Nuseirat, located in the Middle Area of Gaza, was sheltering approximately 12,000 displaced people, mostly women and children. This marks the fifth time the site has been hit since the conflict began 11 months ago. According to the UN, the location had previously been deconflicted with Israeli forces, meaning its coordinates were shared to avoid targeting.

UNRWA urged all parties to refrain from using schools or surrounding areas for military purposes, stating, "No one is safe in Gaza. No one is spared. Schools and other civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times; they are not a target."

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini expressed deep frustration over the "endless and senseless killing" in Gaza, revealing that at least 220 UNRWA staff members have died since the war began. He stressed that the disregard for humanitarian staff and operations must stop, warning that continued impunity threatens the relevance of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions.

The attack highlights the increasingly dire situation in Gaza, where civilian infrastructure continues to suffer amidst the ongoing Israeli genocide. (ILKHA)