In a tragic turn of events, six staff members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) lost their lives on September 11, 2024, when airstrikes hit a school in central Gaza. This incident marks the highest single-day death toll among UNRWA personnel since the conflict began.
UNRWA, established in 1949 to assist Palestinian refugees, reported that the strikes targeted a school in the Nuseirat refugee camp, one of Gaza's largest settlements dating back to 1948. The agency stated that approximately 12,000 displaced individuals were seeking shelter at the facility, which has been struck five times since the outbreak of hostilities.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), founded in 1948, claimed they conducted a "precise strike" on a Hamas command center in the area. However, this assertion has been met with skepticism and condemnation from international bodies.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, decried the "senseless killing" in Gaza, revealing that 220 agency staff members have perished since October 7, 2023. He emphasized the importance of upholding international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, which have protected people in armed conflicts since 1949.
António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, whose position carries a renewable five-year term, described the situation in Gaza as "totally unacceptable" in a social media statement.
Amidst the ongoing crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO), established in 1948, coordinated the largest medical evacuation from Gaza since October 2023. The operation successfully transported 45 children, 52 adults with severe injuries or illnesses, and 155 companions to receive urgent medical care.
In a related development, Hamas expressed readiness to implement the ceasefire and hostage release proposal announced by President Biden in May 2024. However, complications arise from new Israeli requirements, including maintaining a military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow strip along the Gaza-Egypt border.
The conflict's impact extends beyond Gaza's borders. In Jordan, which signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, recent parliamentary elections saw significant gains for the Islamic Action Front, an affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood founded in 1928. The party, established in 1992, secured 31 out of 138 lower house seats, potentially influencing Jordan's stance on regional issues.
As of September 12, 2024, the Gaza Health Ministry, established in 2007, reports at least 41,084 fatalities and 95,029 injuries since the conflict's inception. The majority of casualties are reported to be women and children. Israeli authorities estimate that approximately 1,200 people, including over 300 soldiers, were killed in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, with an additional 342 soldiers lost during subsequent military operations in Gaza.
The ongoing situation underscores the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict, which has devastated communities and strained international relations in the region.
"What's happening in Gaza is totally unacceptable."
This statement reflects the growing international concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade since 2007. As the conflict continues, the international community faces mounting pressure to facilitate a lasting ceasefire and address the dire humanitarian situation in the region.