UN to declare that Israel and Hamas are both violating children’s rights in armed conflict

In a tragic turn of events, Israel’s military has struck a UN-run school near Gaza City for the second time in two days, with the Hamas-run government media office reporting three fatalities. The strike targeted Hamas “terrorists” who were operating from a container on the premises of a school operated by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, in northern Gaza’s Al-Shati refugee camp.

The media office reported that an Israeli aircraft had targeted the school, resulting in three deaths and seven injuries. This comes just a day after another UNRWA school in central Gaza was hit by an Israeli strike, which resulted in the deaths of 37 people, according to a local hospital.

UNRWA has been instrumental in providing aid to the besieged Gaza Strip during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The agency’s facilities have been turned into shelters for displaced civilians, with many seeking refuge in the belief that these buildings were relatively safe from bombardment.

However, UNRWA spokeswoman Juliette Touma revealed that over 180 UNRWA facilities, including shelters for displaced people, have been hit since the start of the war. Tragically, more than 440 people have been killed while seeking shelter under the UN flag.

Hamas has called for an international investigation into what they describe as “crimes” committed by Israeli forces and demanded accountability and punishment for Israeli leaders. The Israeli army has repeatedly accused Hamas and other Gaza militants of using schools and hospitals as cover, a charge denied by the group.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians. In retaliation, Israel’s offensive has claimed the lives of at least 36,731 people in Gaza, the majority of whom are civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

The situation in Gaza remains dire, with civilians caught in the crossfire of a devastating conflict that shows no signs of abating. The international community has been called upon to intervene and bring an end to the violence that has claimed so many innocent lives.