An Israeli air strike has killed at least eight people near the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) aid center in Gaza City, as reported by Palestinian witnesses and international news media. The attack occurred on Sunday, targeting the main gate of UNRWA’s compound in northern Gaza, injuring several Palestinians and coinciding with Israeli tanks advancing into Rafah in the south.
Incident Details
The facility, critical for distributing humanitarian aid in the besieged Gaza Strip, was sheltering hundreds of people displaced by the Israeli military’s ground invasion. A Palestinian woman described the horrific scene to Al Jazeera, noting the injuries to her children and the deaths of many others.
Eyewitness Mohammed Tafesh recounted the chaos as people fled, abandoning their water supplies and aid coupons. A Reuters photographer documented the aftermath, showing a demolished building and bodies wrapped in blankets.
UNRWA’s Response
Juliette Touma, UNRWA’s Director of Communications, confirmed the agency is investigating the incident. She highlighted that nearly 190 UNRWA buildings have been hit since the conflict began, resulting in the deaths of 193 staff members.
Israeli Military’s Statement
The Israeli military asserted that the targeted building was used by Hamas for terrorist activities. This strike follows numerous attacks in Gaza City, including those on the Shati and Tufah camps, which were previously designated as safe havens by the Israeli military. These attacks resulted in at least 42 Palestinian deaths.
Casualty Figures
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that 101 Palestinians were killed and 169 injured in the 24 hours preceding Saturday. This period has been the deadliest since the June 8 massacre at the Nuseirat refugee camp, which resulted in 274 Palestinian deaths.
Ongoing Conflict and International Response
According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, Israeli forces have killed 37,598 Palestinians and wounded 86,032 others over the past eight months. Despite international condemnation and calls for a ceasefire, Israeli attacks on aid distribution and UN facilities continue. UNRWA reports that 445 attacks have damaged 188 different UN facilities, killing at least 500 displaced Palestinians and injuring 1,547.
Aid Distribution Challenges
Aid intended for Gaza remains blocked due to complex bureaucratic procedures and security concerns, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. This blockade has prevented essential food, fuel, and medicine from reaching war-stricken Palestinians, despite international appeals for increased aid and cessation of hostilities.
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