Oct. 8, 2023
Gaza, Palestine – Israeli airstrikes have repeatedly hit schools in the Gaza Strip that have been used as shelters by civilians, according to the United Nations and human rights groups.
The attacks have killed and injured dozens of people, including children, and have left thousands of people homeless.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that as of Oct. 8, Israeli airstrikes had hit at least 10 schools in Gaza, including one that was being used as a shelter for 200 people.
The Israeli military has said that it is targeting Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza, but that it takes precautions to avoid civilian casualties.
However, human rights groups have accused Israel of deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.
“The repeated targeting of schools in Gaza is a clear violation of international law,” said Amnesty International. “It is an attack on the right to education and a denial of the most basic protection to civilians.”
The Israeli airstrikes have also disrupted the education of thousands of children in Gaza.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said that 12 of its schools in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed in the airstrikes.
“The targeting of schools is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law,” said UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunness. “It is a direct attack on the education of children in Gaza.”
The airstrikes have also sparked outrage among the international community.
The United States, a close ally of Israel, has called on the Israeli military to take “all necessary steps” to avoid civilian casualties.
“We are deeply concerned about the violence in Gaza,” said a State Department spokesperson. “We call on all parties to take steps to de-escalate the situation and protect civilians.”
The violence in Gaza is the latest in a long-running conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
The conflict has claimed the lives of thousands of people and displaced millions more.
