An Israeli airstrike on a Gaza school being used as a shelter for displaced Palestinians resulted in 14 fatalities, including six UN staff members. The attack, which the Israeli military said targeted Hamas militants, took place in the Nuseirat refugee camp, where about 5,000 displaced people were seeking refuge. The UN Palestinian refugee agency, Unrwa, condemned the attack, stating that this was the highest death toll among its staff in a single incident.
This incident adds to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with more than 41,000 Palestinians killed since the conflict began 11 months ago. International efforts to mediate a ceasefire have repeatedly stalled, with Hamas indicating its readiness to implement an immediate ceasefire based on a previous US proposal. CIA director William Burns has stated that a more detailed ceasefire proposal will be made in the coming days.
In response to the airstrike on the school, the UN secretary-general called the situation in Gaza “totally unacceptable.” The Israeli military maintains that it takes measures to minimize civilian casualties and accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields, a claim the group denies. The conflict escalated further with the deaths of two Israeli soldiers in a helicopter crash during a rescue operation in Gaza. The incident highlights the dire humanitarian situation in the region and underscores the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
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