An Israeli airstrike on Sunday near Gaza City resulted in the deaths of eight Palestinians at a vocational college used by the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA for aid distribution, witnesses reported. The strike targeted a site that Israel claims was previously used by Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants.
Mohammed Tafesh, an eyewitness, described the chaotic scene where people were gathering to receive aid when the strike occurred, causing casualties and injuries. A Reuters photographer observed the aftermath, including a demolished building and bodies laid out beside the road.
The Israeli military stated that precautionary measures were taken to minimize harm to civilians but acknowledged the strike violated protocol by hitting what was once a UNRWA headquarters. The military accused Hamas of exploiting civilian infrastructure for militant activities.
UNRWA’s director of communications, Juliette Touma, expressed concern over the increasing number of attacks on their facilities during the ongoing conflict, which has claimed the lives of 193 UNRWA staff members.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that the intense phase of fighting against Hamas in Gaza would soon conclude but emphasized that the conflict would continue until Hamas no longer controlled the enclave.
The conflict has intensified, with Israeli forces targeting areas in Gaza where Hamas militants have been active. Reports from Gaza indicate severe humanitarian impacts, including casualties and widespread destruction.
