At least 15 people died and several dozen were hurt in an attack on a school in a refugee camp on Saturday. Jabaliya sits in the northern Gaza Strip, the same town where Israeli strikes in recent days caused many deaths, including women and children, according to reports.
In the latest assault, individuals displaced by Israel’s Gaza operations sought shelter at the Al Fajura school, a facility run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). UNRWA reported repeated attacks on its sites, which are meant to be protected under international law and currently shelter hundreds of thousands of displaced people. Since the current wave of violence began, dozens of contractor workers have been killed and several UN facilities have sustained damage.
The Israeli military continues its campaign in the Gaza Strip amid international appeals for a humanitarian pause. Officials said the army has moved into the southern portion of the enclave, an area where about 1.5 million displaced civilians are concentrated.
UN reaction to the ambulance incident
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was horrified by Friday’s ambulance convoy attack near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza and urged immediate adherence to international law. He noted that the scenes of bodies lying near the hospital were deeply distressing and condemned what he described as a terrorist action linked to Hamas.
While Guterres also recalled Hamas attacks from October 7 and called for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, civilians in Gaza have faced a long siege as the conflict continues. The loss of life, displacement, and ongoing danger for residents have created a mounting humanitarian crisis, with many left without shelter, medical care, or reliable supplies.
The humanitarian situation remains dire. UN facilities report overcrowded schools housing displaced people, hospitals strained for fuel and supplies, water systems under stress, and shops emptied of goods. In Gaza, the sense of danger is constant, and officials warn that entire communities are living under trauma with little safe space available.