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The United Nations' top official for Palestinian refugees demanded independent investigations Monday into what he described as systematic Israeli violations of international humanitarian law, following a deadly strike on a school-turned-shelter that killed four people.
Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), issued the call after Israeli forces shelled a UN-operated school in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on Sunday. Several others were wounded in the attack.
"Yesterday, four people were killed following shelling by Israeli forces of an UNRWA school-turned-shelter in Nuseirat refugee camp. More are reported injured," Lazzarini wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The strike comes amid what Lazzarini characterized as a fragile ceasefire that took effect Oct. 10 under a U.S.-brokered agreement. He warned that the truce "must be upheld" as violence continues across the territory.
UNRWA facilities have borne a devastating toll since the conflict erupted in October 2023. According to Lazzarini, more than 800 people have been killed and nearly 2,600 injured across 300 separate incidents affecting UNRWA premises throughout the war.
"I reiterate my call for independent investigations into these blatant breaches of international humanitarian law," Lazzarini said. "The guns must fall silent, and accountability must come."
The Gaza government media office reported 80 Israeli ceasefire violations since the agreement took effect, resulting in 97 Palestinians killed and 230 injured.
The broader conflict has exacted a catastrophic human cost. The Gaza Health Ministry reports more than 68,000 people killed and over 170,000 injured since October 2023.
Schools and other civilian infrastructure have frequently become shelters for displaced Palestinians as the war has rendered large portions of Gaza uninhabitable. International humanitarian law affords special protections to such facilities, particularly when they house civilians fleeing combat zones.
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