The Israeli Defense Force strikes a school sheltering Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Middle Gaza amid its military operation in the area – OHCHR

6 June 2024

The UN Human Rights Office is shocked by reports of an attack by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) this morning on an UNRWA school in An Nuseirat Camp 2, Middle Gaza, that reportedly left tens of civilians dead. At approximately 0140 hours this morning, an UNRWA school located on Khalid Ibn Al Waleed Street, reportedly sheltering almost 6,000 IDPs, was struck by Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter jets. According to UNRWA, at least 35 Palestinians were killed. Meanwhile, the Gaza Government Media Office announced that those killed included 14 children and 9 women, and 74 others were injured including 23 children and 18 women. This attack follows strikes yesterday in Middle Gaza that led to a high number of casualties.

We are deeply concerned that this strike suggests a failure by the IDF to ensure strict compliance with international humanitarian law, particularly the basic principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution in attack. While Israel has claimed that armed Palestinians were using the school as a base of operations, which itself would amount to a violation of IHL, this would not allow or justify violations of these principles. We note with concern that this attack follows a strike last week on an IDPs camp in Rafah that left at least 45 Palestinians dead.