UN Condemns Attacks On UNRWA Schools, Palestinian Death Toll In Gaza Reaches 45 Thousand People

UNRWA schools in Gaza that were used as shelters for Palestinian refugees were destroyed by Israeli attacks. (Source: UNRWA)

JAKARTA - The United Nations (UN) condemned Israel's airstrikes against a school in Khan Younis, Gaza, which killed Palestinian civilians on weekends.

The families of Palestinians who died in Khan Younis gathered around their bodies wrapped in cloth before being taken to the cemetery on Monday.

Palestinian health officials confirmed at least 20 people died as a result of the attack, including children.

"People are safe, stay in their homes (reservoirs) after they pray Maghrib. They sit, sleep, and stay where they are," said Manal Tafesh, whose brother and children were among those killed.

"Our children have left, our children have left. Our youth has gone. Our children have left, and our lineage has ended. When will this darkness end?" he told Reuters outside the morgue.

The Israeli military said on Monday it had attacked Hamas militants operating from a complex that previously served as UN-run schools.

The complex is also said to serve as a training camp to prepare and plan attacks on Israeli troops.

The Israeli military is known to accuse Hamas of using civilian residents such as hospitals, schools and mosques for military purposes. Hamas denies the allegations as Israel's excuse to "provide indiscriminate killing of civilians".

Separately, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UNRWah-run Sheikh Jamil School in Khan Younis, houses many displaced people, including children, women and parents, condemning the killing of civilians, quoted from WAFA.

"We once again condemn all killings of civilians," said Dujarric, quoted from Anadolu.

Yesterday, Gaza's health authorities confirmed the number of victims of the Palestinians as a result of the Israeli attack since October 7, 2023, had reached 45,028 people, while the injured reached 106,962 people, the majority of the victims were women and children.