The ongoing war in Gaza has revealed a disturbing pattern; the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, including schools, shelters and medical facilities, which only exacerbates the callous disregard for the sanctity of human life and the basic principles of international humanitarian law.
Israel has accused Hamas, on many occasions, of using civilians, including children, as human shields by operating within civilian areas, such as schools and hospitals.
Since the war in Gaza began, over 180 UNRWA buildings have been hit even though the UNRWA shares the coordinates of all its facilities with the Israeli Army and other parties to the conflict.
The UN’s human right office has said that the Israeli military’s failure to ensure “distinction, proportionality and precaution” in its attacks that have killed Palestinian civilians would amount to violations of international humanitarian law.
This came as recent Israeli air strikes on a UN-operated school sheltering displaced Palestinians in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza killed dozens of people
Israel’s military confirmed the bombing, saying its fighter jets struck a “Hamas compound embedded inside an UNRWA school in the area of Nuseirat”.
It claimed the bombing “eliminated terrorists who were planning to carry out attacks” against its forces.
The deadly strike took place at a sensitive moment in mediated talks on a ceasefire that would involve releasing captives held by Hamas and some of the Palestinians being held in Israeli jails.
UN Relief Chief, Martin Griffiths, labelled the attack as “yet another tragedy proving there is nowhere safe for civilians in Gaza.”
The UN rights office said that the presence of fighters “would not allow or justify violations” of the international humanitarian law principles of distinguishing between civilians and combatants when carrying out attacks, and proportionately and precaution to ensure civilians are not targeted, the UN said in a statement.
“We note with concern that this attack follows a strike last week on an IDPs camp that left at least 45 Palestinians dead,” the UN rights office said.
UNRWA Chief, Philippe Lazzarini stated that the Israeli Forces carried out the strikes without prior warning to the displaced or the UNRWA.
“Attacking, targeting or using UN buildings for military purposes are a blatant disregard of International Humanitarian law. UN staff, premises and operations must be protected at all times.
Antonio Guterres joined in the condemnation of the attack.
“It’s just another horrific example of the price that civilians are paying, that Palestinian men, women and children who are just trying to survive [are paying],” Guterres’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
Jordan also condemned the Israeli air strike on a UN shelter in central Gaza as a “flagrant violation of international law.”
“We condemn in the strongest terms the continuous and systematic targeting of shelters for Palestinian refugees in Gaza and UN facilities,” the Jordanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“These actions and crimes … contradict all human and moral values and represent war crimes against the international community as a whole,” the statement noted.
It added that the global community must “shoulder its responsibility to deter Israel from committing further crimes against civilians and to stop its futile war on the Gaza Strip.”
Israel Asserts Claim Of Hamas Residing In UN Shelter
Meanwhile, Rear-Admiral Daniel Hagari lambasted the media for not reporting that Hamas operates in schools, hospitals, and mosques after the deadly attack on a UN shelter.
“In the last months alone, Hamas wages wars from schools and hospitals. Hamas hopes that international law and public sympathy will provide a shield for their military activities, which is why they systematically operate from schools, UN facilities, hospitals and mosques,” Hagari stated.
He added, “Sadly, we saw some media outlets fall for Hamas’s tactics yet again before checking the facts.”
Israeli army claimed to have identified 9 fighters killed in the UN-school attack.
Israel’s military said about 30 fighters were gathering in rooms of the school when they attacked the area with “a precision strike.”
Hagari disclosed that the Israeli military is still working to identify more Palestinian fighters targeted in the attack on the UN-run school in Nuseirat refugee camp.
READ ALSO: Over 500,000 Businesses Face Removal from ORC Register by June 30
