{"id":271369,"date":"2024-08-12T12:00:43","date_gmt":"2024-08-12T11:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=271369"},"modified":"2024-12-15T07:18:12","modified_gmt":"2024-12-15T07:18:12","slug":"another-day-of-horror-un-rights-office-condemns-israeli-strikes-at-gazan-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2024\/08\/another-day-of-horror-un-rights-office-condemns-israeli-strikes-at-gazan-school\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Another Day of Horror\u2019: UN Rights Office Condemns Israeli Strikes at Gazan School"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_271371\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/gaza-israel-genocide-palestine-8.jpg\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-271371\" class=\"wp-image-271371\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/gaza-israel-genocide-palestine-8-1024x463.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"272\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/gaza-israel-genocide-palestine-8-1024x463.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/gaza-israel-genocide-palestine-8-300x136.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/gaza-israel-genocide-palestine-8-768x348.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/gaza-israel-genocide-palestine-8.jpg 1171w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-271371\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An UNRWA-run school, which was converted into a shelter, was severely damaged by IDF strikes. (file)\u00a0 \u00a9 UNRWA<\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p>10 Aug 2024 &#8211; <em>The UN Human Rights Office condemned today the increasing frequency of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) strikes on schools, where hundreds of thousands of forcibly displaced Palestinians have sought shelter, with the latest attacks killing dozens at a Gaza City school.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>At around 4:30am during dawn prayer on Sat [10 Aug], a mosque inside Al Tabaeen School was struck by the IDF \u201cat least three times\u201d, the UN rights office, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/EN\/pages\/home.aspx\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">OHCHR<\/a>, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/reliefweb.int\/report\/occupied-palestinian-territory\/un-human-rights-office-opt-un-human-rights-office-condemns-israeli-defense-forces-strike-al-tabaeen-school-gaza-city\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">statement<\/a>, adding that the attacks were \u201cconducted with apparent disregard for the high rate of civilian fatalities\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>An initial report showed the strikes killed at least 93 Palestinians, including 11 children and six women.<\/p>\n<p>Between 7 October and 8 August,\u00a0at least 39,699 Palestinians were killed and 91,722 were injured in the ongoing war, according to Gaza\u2019s Ministry of Health.<\/p>\n<p>More than 90 per cent of Gaza\u2019s population of 2.3 million has been displaced, many multiple times, since 7 October, when Hamas-led attacks on Israel left 1,200 dead and 250 people taken hostage, with more than 100 remaining in Gaza as talks continue to end the war.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Schools must not be a target: UNRWA chief<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Schools, UN facilities and civilian infrastructure should not be targets, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unrwa.org\/\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">UNRWA<\/a>, reiterated in a social media <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UNLazzarini\/status\/1822228589309222913\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">post<\/a> on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnother day of horror in Gaza, another school hit with reports of dozens of Palestinian killed among them women, children and older people,\u201d he said, adding that parties to the conflict must not use schools and other civilian facilities for military or fighting purposes and must, at all times, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s time for these horrors unfolding under our watch to end,\u201d he said. \u201cWe cannot let the unbearable become a new norm. The more recurrent, the more we lose our collective humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Another day of horror in <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Gaza?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#Gaza<\/a> <br \/>Another school hit with reports of dozens of Palestinian killed among them women, children and older people. <\/p>\n<p>Schools, UN facilities and civilian infrastructure are <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NOTaTarget?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#NOTaTarget<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\uded1Parties to the conflict must not use schools &amp; other civilian\u2026<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UNLazzarini\/status\/1822228589309222913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >August 10, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2><strong>21st strike on schools since July<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The majority of fatalities resulting from the Saturday IDF strikes appear to have been inside the mosque performing their prayers, OHCHR reported. Dozens of others were reportedly seriously injured, mostly children, women and older people.<\/p>\n<p>This is at least the 21st strike on a school, each serving as a shelter, that the UN Human Rights Office has recorded since 4 July. These strikes have resulted in at least 274 fatalities, including women and children.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDespite IDF statements that all measures are taken to avoid civilian harm, the repeated strikes on shelters [for displaced people] in areas to which the populations have been forced to move and the consistent and predictable impact on civilians suggest a failure to strictly comply with obligations required by international humanitarian law,\u201d OHCHR stated.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Schools are often the \u2018last resort\u2019 for shelter<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The agency said these systematic attacks on schools came in the context where most of Gaza\u2019s population has been displaced while the Israeli military continues detonating residential buildings and restricting the entry and distribution of humanitarian assistance.<\/p>\n<p>Internally displaced Gazans face \u201cindescribable horror\u201d after 10 months of hostilities, including multiple forced displacements, the rapid spread of diseases and ongoing denial of access to the basic necessities of life, OHCHR said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor many, schools are the last resort to find some shelter and possible access to food and water,\u201d according to the UN agency.<\/p>\n<div class=\"context-un_news_full_width_credit_caption type-entermedia_image media media--type-entermedia-image media--view-mode-un-news-full-width-credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-thumbnail field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"The war in Gaza has seen an unprecedented number of attacks on UN premises and staff.\" src=\"https:\/\/global.unitednations.entermediadb.net\/assets\/mediadb\/services\/module\/asset\/downloads\/preset\/Collections\/Embargoed\/25-07-2024-UNRWA-Gaza-06.jpg\/image1170x530cropped.jpg\" alt=\"The war in Gaza has seen an unprecedented number of attacks on UN premises and staff.\" width=\"1170\" height=\"530\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item\" style=\"text-align: center;\">The war in Gaza has seen an unprecedented number of attacks on UN premises and staff.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a9 UNRWA<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><strong>Violating international humanitarian law<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In most of the incidents, OHCHR said, the Israeli military asserts that the schools were used by Palestinian armed groups and that they took measures to reduce civilian harm.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile the co-location by armed groups of military objectives with civilians or the use of the presence of civilians with the objective of shielding a military objective from attack constitute violations of international humanitarian law, it does not negate Israel\u2019s obligation to comply strictly,\u201d OHCHR said.<\/p>\n<p>That includes the principles of proportionality, distinction and precaution when carrying out military operations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIsrael, as the occupying power, is obliged to provide the population it has forcibly displaced with basic humanitarian needs, including safe shelter,\u201d the UN rights office said.<\/p>\n<h3>Civilians must not bear brunt of conflict<\/h3>\n<p>UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, urged all parties to the conflict in Gaza to prioritise the protection of civilians, conclude a deal for a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza and implement its provisions without delay or condition in line with UN <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/securitycouncil\/\" >Security Council<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/undocs.org\/S\/RES\/2735(2024)\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">resolution 2735<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe cost in lives of this war is evident with every passing day as we have witnessed yet another devastating strike on a school sheltering thousands of displaced Palestinians, with dozens of fatalities,\u201d he said in a statement on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery day civilians continue to bear the brunt of this conflict amidst horror, displacement and endless suffering.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Encouraged by the perseverance of the leaders of the United States, Egypt, and Qatar as mediators and their call on both sides to conclude the ceasefire and hostages release deal, he said the UN is committed to supporting all efforts towards this goal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAn end to this nightmare is long overdue,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2024\/08\/1153041\" >Go to Original &#8211; news.un.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>10 Aug 2024 &#8211; The UN Human Rights Office condemned today the increasing frequency of Israeli Defense Forces strikes on schools, where hundreds of thousands of forcibly displaced Palestinians have sought shelter, with the latest attacks killing dozens at a Gaza City school.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":271371,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[867,532,1854,2898,1199,2242,87,865,1643,1029,1966,1644,2395,88,2414,2416,715,427,1378,3237,3294,124,70,965,1025,886],"class_list":["post-271369","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-united-nations","tag-anglo-america","tag-colonialism","tag-crimes-against-humanity","tag-ecocide","tag-ethnic-cleansing","tag-famine","tag-gaza","tag-genocide","tag-genocide-convention","tag-hamas","tag-hunger","tag-international-court-of-justice-icj","tag-international-criminal-court-icc","tag-israel","tag-israeli-apartheid","tag-israeli-occupation","tag-massacre","tag-palestine","tag-protests","tag-rafah","tag-students-anti-genocide-gaza","tag-united-nations","tag-usa","tag-war-crimes","tag-west-bank","tag-zionism"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271369","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271369"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271369\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":271372,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271369\/revisions\/271372"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/271371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271369"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271369"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271369"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}