Israeli Strike Kills Dozens at Civilian Shelter in Gaza
Israeli warplanes struck a United Nations-run school in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens more who had sought refuge there from the violence that has engulfed the territory, according to Palestinian health officials.
The attack on the school in the Jabalya refugee camp was the latest in a series of strikes on civilian sites in Gaza, including hospitals, mosques and homes, that have raised international concern about the conduct of the Israeli military.
The Israeli military said it was investigating the strike, which it said was a result of “erroneous intelligence.”
The United Nations said it had informed the Israeli military of the location of the school, which was housing more than 3,000 people displaced by the fighting.
“The United Nations strongly condemns today’s tragic attack on a UNRWA school in Jabalya, Gaza, where hundreds of Palestinians had sought shelter from the violence,” the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East said in a statement. “The school was clearly marked and its coordinates had been communicated to the Israeli authorities.”
The Israeli military said it had been targeting a Hamas military post near the school.
“The Israeli military is investigating the incident,” the military said in a statement. “The Israeli military regrets the loss of life and is looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
The Israeli military has said it is trying to minimize civilian casualties, but it has come under increasing criticism for its tactics in Gaza, where more than 1,800 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began on July 8.
The Israeli military has said it is targeting Hamas militants and infrastructure, but Palestinian officials and human rights groups say the majority of the casualties have been civilians.
The United Nations said it was “deeply shocked and appalled” by the attack on the school.
“The United Nations calls on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure,” the agency said.