An Israeli airstrike on a UN school-turned-shelter in the Nuseirat camp, central Gaza, killed at least 18 people, including United Nations staff, on Wednesday, September 11, according to Gaza Civil Defense and hospital officials.
The Palestinian authority reported that 44 others were injured.
UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian humanitarian relief, stated on X that six of its employees were killed in two airstrikes that hit the school and its vicinity, marking the highest death toll among their staff in a single incident.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the airstrike, claiming it targeted terrorists operating within the school compound.
The IDF alleged that the facility was used by Hamas terrorists to plan and execute attacks against Israeli troops and the state of Israel. They added that significant measures were taken to reduce civilian harm and criticized Hamas for allegedly misusing civilian infrastructure.
The targeted facility, the Al Jaouni UNRWA center, has not functioned as a school since October.
Approximately 12,000 displaced people, including women and children, were sheltering there, according to UNRWA. This was the fifth attack on the school compound since October 7, as noted by the UN agency and a Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson.
