Israeli forces have reportedly bombed two United Nations-run schools in southern Gaza, killing at least 69 displaced Palestinians sheltering in the buildings.
The UN-run schools that were turned into shelters are Khalil Oweida School in Beit Hanoon and the Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz School in Khan Younis.
According to a statement from Gaza’s Ministry of Health officials, released on Monday, December 16, 2024, at least 69 people were confirmed dead and others fatally injured as a result of Israeli attacks on shelters housing the displaced people in Palestine in the last 24 hours.
“Civilians were hit as they were sleeping, including women and children. They were not warned by the Israeli military before the attack. Some of the bodies were shredded to pieces due to the scale of the attack in question,” part of the statement read.
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According to Ismail al-Thwabta, the spokesperson of the Government Media Office in Gaza, the schools were gazetted to be sheltering hundreds of Palestinian families who are homeless as a result of Israeli attacks in the area, and that they are located in areas busy with civilian activity free from any military activity.
“We condemn the various complex crimes committed by the occupation army against our people. We call on the countries of the world to condemn the crimes of the occupation and the systematic killing of innocent people,” al-Thwabta said.
He also said that UNRWA facilities in Gaza have been targeted frequently by the occupation forces since the Israeli invasion began in October 2023 despite calls from the UN agencies and civilians posing no threat or any sign of being armed.
Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported at least 44,976 Palestinians to have been killed by Israeli forces since October 7, 2023.
