Dozens Killed and Injured in UNRWA School Targeting
In a statement issued today, Mwatana for Human Rights reported that Israeli occupation forces deliberately targeted a UNRWA school sheltering Palestinian refugees, causing the deaths and injuries of dozens of Palestinian civilians. This act is yet another war crime to add to the long list of documented atrocities against Palestinian civilians, reminding the world that Israeli forces continue to commit horrific massacres with the same brutality they exhibited at the beginning of their war on the Gaza Strip in early October 2023.
Mwatana for Human Rights emphasized that the recent attack by Israeli forces on a gathering of refugees in a UNRWA facility is part of a series of assaults targeting Palestinian civilians seeking refuge in United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) facilities. This underscores the persistent defiance of Israeli occupation forces against global conscience and the escalating outrage condemning their crimes against Palestinians.
On Saturday, July 6, an Israeli attack resulted in the deaths of at least 16 Palestinians and injuries to 50 others at the "Al-Ja’ouni" school, a UNRWA-run facility housing refugees in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza. This attack adds to a lengthy list of Israeli violations, including 190 UNRWA facilities, some of which have been directly bombed multiple times. Due to this pattern of attacks, 520 people have been killed, and nearly 1600 have been injured while seeking safety.
UNRWA has faced an unprecedented Israeli and international campaign, with Israel accusing some UNRWA staff of joining Palestinian resistance factions and claiming that "Hamas" uses the agency's premises and schools for combat operations. This led to several donor countries, including the United States, abruptly halting their funding, severely impacting the agency's activities, which are a lifeline for more than 5.5 million Palestinian refugees.
Abd Al-Rasheed Al-Faqih, Vice Chairperson of Mwatana for Human Rights, stated, "Israel continually fabricates excuses to commit further horrific violations against Palestinians, blatantly disregarding the special protection afforded to humanitarian agencies, their facilities, staff, and operations." He stressed, "This rampant killing places Israel and its officials directly in future confrontation with the international justice and accountability system." Al-Faqih pointed out, "The U.S. State Department's call for 'transparency' following this horrific attack exemplifies the tepid responses that encourage Israel to continue its serious crimes against Palestinians, supported by the United States and other countries that back Israel and its crimes, instead of fulfilling their moral, legal, and political duties to seriously act to stop these horrific crimes."
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said, "Enough is enough. At least 193 of UNRWA personnel have been killed in Gaza, nearly 190 UNRWA buildings have been damaged or destroyed, and UNRWA schools have been demolished. At least 500 refugees have been killed while sheltering in UNRWA schools and other facilities. Since October 7, UNRWA personnel have been detained by the Israeli Security Forces and report mistreatment and torture during their detention in Gaza or Israel."
Juliette Touma, UNRWA Communications Director, confirmed, "Hundreds of women and children who sought refuge in UNRWA facilities have been killed since the start of the war."
Mwatana for Human Rights called on the international community to prevent the recurrence of such crimes, hold those responsible accountable, and end the terrible suffering of the people in Gaza. The organization renewed its call to the international community, governments, the United Nations, international organizations, and the human rights movement worldwide to support the efforts of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in pursuing those responsible for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity within the Court's jurisdiction over the State of Palestine since April 2, 2015.
