Hitting shelters by Israel shows total disregard for humanity: UNRWA chief
The commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) says that the number of facilities hit and civilians massacred due to constant Israeli bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip cannot just be “collateral damage."
“Most of the facilities hit had families in them including older people, parents, and children. They were all clearly marked as UN buildings carrying a blue flag. UNRWA shares the coordinates of these buildings on a regular basis with parties to the conflict,” the UN agency’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement.
Since October 7, Israel has directly hit 17 of UNRWA’s facilities in Gaza, the UN agency said.
“Once again, shelters meant to provide safety and protection to civilians have been hit, massacring many people, including children. These acts not only blatantly contravene the rules of war, they also show a total disregard for humanity,” Lazzarini said.
Separately, the World Health Organization has said the al-Shifa hospital, which was once the largest and most advanced hospital in Gaza, has now turned into a “death zone.”
A team led by the WHO visited the hospital in northern Gaza after the Israeli army raided the medical complex and forcibly evacuated thousands of people taking refuge there from the regime’s attacks.
Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza is entering its 44th day, and there seems to be no end in sight to the painful tragedies there.
One of the latest Israeli attacks has hit two schools, martyring scores of people. The regime targeted the UN-run al-Fakhoora School, located in Jabalia refugee camp, and another school in northern Gaza.
Israel has ordered Palestinians to move from north Gaza for so-called safety, but deadly air strikes continue to hit central and southern areas of the Strip.
At least 80 Palestinians were also massacred in the regime’s air strikes on residential blocks in the south of the Strip.
ME
