Six staff members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) were killed in Israeli airstrikes on a school in Gaza that had been serving as a shelter. The incident took place at a school in Nuseirat, located in the Middle Area of the Gaza Strip. The UNRWA school was providing refuge to around 12,000 displaced people, mostly women and children, who had sought safety amid the ongoing conflict.
The UNRWA stated that the school had been struck by Israeli airstrikes five times since the war began 11 months ago. In this latest attack, not only were the six staff members killed, but at least 34 other people also lost their lives, according to media reports. The victims included the shelter manager, who had been assisting those displaced by the conflict.
The United Nations expressed deep concern over the loss of life and condemned the airstrikes. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), UNRWA shared its sorrow, stating, "Six @UNRWA colleagues were killed today when two airstrikes hit a school and its surroundings in Nuseirat." This was the highest death toll among UNRWA staff in a single incident during the conflict.
The UNRWA urged all parties involved in the conflict to avoid using schools or areas near schools for military purposes. It emphasized the need to protect schools and civilian infrastructure at all times, reminding everyone that these places should never be targets in a war.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the killings, calling them violations of international humanitarian law. He expressed his dismay over the continuous violence in Gaza and stressed the need for immediate action to stop further civilian deaths.
Guterres noted, “A school turned shelter for around 12,000 people was hit by Israeli airstrikes again today. Six of our @UNRWA colleagues are among those killed. These violations of international humanitarian law need to stop now.”
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini joined the chorus of condemnation. He revealed that at least 220 UNRWA staff members have been killed since the beginning of the war. Lazzarini described the situation as “endless and senseless killing, day after day,” and warned that the continued disregard for international humanitarian law could lead to the Geneva Conventions becoming “irrelevant.”
The tragic event in Nuseirat highlights the growing number of civilian casualties in Gaza, particularly among those who are already vulnerable and displaced. The use of civilian infrastructure as shelters has become a necessity due to the conflict, but these locations have been repeatedly targeted.
Meanwhile, amidst the devastation, health workers in Gaza are continuing their efforts to protect children from diseases like polio. A vaccination campaign is underway in northern Gaza, aiming to immunize young children against the disease. Polio, which can cause paralysis, was detected in Gaza earlier this year.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that more than 81,600 boys and girls had been vaccinated as of Tuesday. UN agencies and their partners have launched a two-round campaign to vaccinate over 640,000 children, with the first round already reaching nearly 528,000.
According to the UN, over 230 teams of health workers are on the ground, administering the first dose of the polio vaccine to children under the age of 10. The second round of vaccinations is scheduled to take place in four weeks.
Despite the grim circumstances, the vaccination campaign offers a glimpse of hope amid the chaos in Gaza. It is a reminder that even in times of conflict, humanitarian efforts continue to protect the most vulnerable, particularly children.
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