Wed Sep 11 09:23:59 UTC 2024: ## UN Staff Killed in Gaza School Strike, Condemnation Mounts
**Gaza City** – Six UNRWA staff members were killed on Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike on a school in central Gaza, the agency confirmed. The strike, which targeted a command and control center operated by Hamas, also resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people according to the Hamas-run government media office.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, calling the lack of accountability for the killing of UN staff “totally unacceptable.” Ireland’s Foreign Minister Micheál Martin also condemned the strike, emphasizing the need to protect humanitarian workers.
The school, which housed around 12,000 displaced people, had been struck five times since the war began on October 7th. This incident marks the highest death toll among UNRWA staff in a single incident during the current conflict.
The Israeli military claims it takes steps to minimize civilian casualties, asserting that at least a third of the Palestinian fatalities are militants. They accuse Hamas of using civilians as human shields, a claim Hamas denies.
The current conflict began on October 7th when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. The ensuing Israeli assault on Gaza has led to the deaths of over 41,000 Palestinians.
The strike on the school is the latest in a series of incidents involving civilian casualties in both Gaza and the West Bank.
Separately, a US activist, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, was shot and killed by Israeli forces while protesting against settlements in the occupied West Bank. President Biden condemned the killing as “totally unacceptable” and called for full accountability.
The ongoing conflict has sparked international condemnation and calls for a ceasefire. The UN has been advocating for a solution that addresses the underlying issues and brings about a lasting peace.
First Piper 