The recent tragic events in the Gaza Strip continue to spark outrage and dismay around the world. The bombing of the Al-Shati Primary School for Boys by the Israeli Defense Forces resulted in the deaths of at least 14 people, including innocent civilians, and injured more than 20 others, according to medical sources cited by the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
The school, affiliated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), was a place of refuge for many displaced Palestinians. The fact that civilians, including women and children, were targeted in this attack raises serious questions about compliance with international humanitarian law.
On the one hand, the Israeli military claims that the school was used by Hamas to plan and carry out attacks against Israel. On the other hand, Gaza residents bear witness to the terror and suffering inflicted by the relentless bombardment that is destroying their homes, schools and lives.
The human toll of this conflict is alarming. Since the start of the Israeli military campaign to punish Hamas following the deadly attacks of 7 October, more than 43,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, the majority of them women and children. In addition, more than 100,000 people have been injured, leaving the local population in a state of trauma and deep despair.
The United Nations reported in September that nearly 85 per cent of schools in Gaza have been affected or damaged by the violence. This widespread destruction of educational infrastructure is depriving thousands of children of their right to a safe and quality education, further exacerbating the suffering of civilians caught in the middle of this devastating conflict.
In this spiral of violence and destruction, it is imperative that the international community act urgently to end hostilities, protect innocent civilians and pave the way for lasting peace in the region. Every loss of life, every child injured, every school destroyed are cruel reminders of the urgency of a peaceful and just resolution to this conflict that has already cost too many lives and immeasurable suffering.