In a tragic turn of events, an Israeli attack on a United Nations-run school in the Gaza Strip has resulted in at least 16 Palestinian fatalities, according to the Gaza Government Media Office. The assault, which targeted the al-Jaouni school in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, also left more than 75 people injured.

The school, operated by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), was serving as a shelter for displaced individuals seeking refuge from the ongoing conflict. This incident marks the latest in a series of attacks on educational facilities since the outbreak of hostilities in early October.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Gaza Government Media Office strongly condemned the attack, stating, “We condemn the Israeli occupation [for] committing these ongoing crimes and massacres against civilians, children and women.”

However the Israel Defence Force in a statement said “Based on IDF and ISA intelligence, the IAF struck several terrorists operating in structures located in the area of @UNRWA’s Al-Jaouni School in central Gaza.

“This location served as both a hideout and operational infrastructure from which attacks against IDF troops operating in Gaza were directed and carried out.

“Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken in order to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise aerial surveillance and additional intelligence.

“Hamas continues to systematically violate international law by exploiting civilian structures and the civilian population as human shields for its terrorist attacks against the State of Israel”.

The conflict, has taken a devastating toll on the Palestinian population. Official figures indicate that at least 38,098 Palestinians have lost their lives in Israeli attacks across Gaza since October 7. The situation in the besieged enclave continues to deteriorate, with severe shortages of essential supplies including food, water, and medicine.

This latest attack on a UN-run facility raises further concerns about the protection of civilians and the adherence to international humanitarian law in the ongoing conflict. The international community has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilian infrastructure.

As the death toll continues to rise and the humanitarian crisis deepens, pressure mounts on both sides to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.