Failed Hamas Launches Hit UNRWA School, Killing Civilians, Says IDF
A humanitarian disaster unfolded in Gaza yesterday after two failed Hamas rockets misfired and struck a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) school in the Jabaliya refugee camp, killing at least seven civilians, including two children, and wounding over a dozen others.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has taken responsibility for the strikes, citing the rockets as having been fired by Hamas, which has repeatedly used human shields to hide its military arsenal.
According to eyewitnesses, the UNRWA school had been converted into a makeshift shelter for dozens of families who had fled their homes in the face of escalating violence in Gaza. The school was heavily damaged, with classrooms reduced to rubble and survivors reportedly trapped beneath the debris.
IDF spokesperson Brigadier-General Ronen Manelis announced the development, stating, "Yesterday evening, two failed Hamas rocket launches crashed into a UNRWA school in Jabaliya, tragically killing and wounding civilians. We extend our sincerest condolences to the families of those affected by this horrific incident."
In response to the disaster, the IDF released footage showing the failed launch attempts, which were captured on video by Israeli surveillance systems. The videos appear to show the Hamas rockets firing from residential areas before losing altitude and plummeting back towards the ground, striking the UNRWA school.
The United Nations, whose UNRWA agency was severely criticized for its handling of the Gaza conflict in 2014, expressed deep concern over the incident and condemned all attacks on civilians. The international organization has been working with humanitarian partners to provide aid and relief to the affected families.
This latest tragic development has further heightened tensions between Israel and Hamas, with both sides continuing to trade blows in a conflict that has lasted for weeks. The humanitarian community remains deeply concerned about the safety and security of civilians caught in the crossfire, urging all parties to exercise restraint and ensure that humanitarian access is maintained to all those affected.
The incident marks one of the most devastating attacks in Gaza this year, highlighting the devastating toll that the conflict is taking on civilian infrastructure and populations. As the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, the international community remains increasingly divided on how to address the growing threat posed by Hamas and its reliance on human shields to conceal its military activity.
Meanwhile, Palestinian officials are criticizing the IDF’s actions, describing the strikes as "war crimes" and calling for international intervention to "put an end to Israel’s brutality."
As the conflict rages on, the world holds its collective breath, hoping for a swift end to the violence and a return to calm, while mourning the loss of yet another innocent life.