UNRWA Suffers Highest Toll in Gaza School Airstrike

The U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA reported that six of its staffers were killed after two airstrikes struck a school in Gaza. Among the dead were the shelter manager and other team members. The Israeli military claimed the strike targeted a Hamas-operated command center.

The U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA announced that six of its staff members were killed when two airstrikes hit a school in central Gaza on Wednesday, the deadliest incident for its staff to date.

UNRWA disclosed that those killed included the manager of the shelter and others aiding displaced populations. Earlier that day, the Israeli army confirmed a strike on a Hamas command center in Nuseirat, central Gaza.

The school, sheltering around 12,000 displaced mostly women and children, has been hit five times since the conflict started. The Hamas government reported at least 18 deaths from the airstrike, including UNRWA staffers.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the lack of accountability for attacks on U.N. staff and humanitarian workers in Gaza as "totally unacceptable." Israel maintains its operations aim to minimize civilian harm and accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields, which Hamas denies.

The conflict was ignited on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, resulting in 1,200 Israeli deaths and 250 hostages. Israel's counterattack has claimed over 41,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza's health ministry.

(With inputs from agencies.)