Innocent civilians continue to fill the list of casualties in the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza. A school in Beit Hanoun, managed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and used as a shelter was hit, probably by Israeli artillery fire, the strike killing at least 13 people and injuring more than 200. In the absence of a definite incriminating proof against the IDF (Israeli Defense Force), an Israeli military source declared that the school may have been erroneously hit by a Hamas rocket. Analysing the situation on the field, a reporter declared after the event that she was unable to reach the UN shelter “due to heavy Israeli shelling”. UNRWA sources state that this is the fourth time in the last four days that such UN facilities were “struck by explosive projectiles”.
The UNRWA Commissioner-General declared yesterday in an official statement: “The scenes of carnage and human suffering that we witnessed today at our elementary school in Beit Hanoun were so appalling and intolerable, that it is difficult to find the words to convey adequately my indignation”. He condemned the attack “in the strongest possible terms”, calling for “an immediate investigation” to find those who bear responsibility for the attack. There is an increased tension between UNRWA and IDF, the humanitarian organization trying previously to negotiate for a safe corridor, in order to evacuate some of the staff and the displaced Palestinians. Facing a continuous silence regarding any evacuation plan, the UN representatives sent in 12 occasions the school’s GPS coordinates to the Israeli military, in a desperate attempt to avoid any possible danger posed by artillery or aerial attacks. The bad news about UN shelters is that they constitute a magnet for any person seeking protection in a conflict area, which transforms such a facility in a place of carnage when struck with heavy weapons. This is why the UNRWA leader underlined in his statement “the binding obligations of parties to the conflict under international law to respect the inviolability and sanctity of UN premises”.
[ads2]
Israel’s military offensive against Hamas militants began 16 days ago, the fierce fighting claiming the lives of at least 797 Palestinians and 33 Israelis, with a continuously increasing death rate. IDF’s assault on Gaza is destined to end the Hamas rocket launches, the current military pressure along the border transforming the Palestinian territory in “the biggest prison in the world”, according to Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal.