Israel implementing 'systematic policy' of targeting Gaza humanitarian zones, shelters: Euro-Med

An international human rights organization says Israel is pressing ahead with a "systematic policy of targeting civilians" in the Gaza Strip, including bombardment of shelter centers for displaced people and areas designated as humanitarian zones by the United Nations.

The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor in a Tuesday report said that by specifically targeting schools of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), which function as shelter centers in the Gaza Strip, Israel “deliberately” aims to hinder security and deny displaced Palestinians, who are protected by international humanitarian law, stability or temporary shelter.

“By targeting UNRWA schools functioning as shelter centers, Israeli bombing tactics demonstrate a deliberate policy intended to prevent security across the entire Gaza Strip and deny displaced Palestinians stability or shelter, even if that shelter is only temporary,” the Geneva-based monitor said in its report.

Euro-Med reported that since the early hours of Tuesday, there have been four reported instances of Israeli strikes targeting shelter facilities, which resulted in several killings and injuries, mostly women and children.

On Tuesday afternoon, Israeli aircraft bombed the Nadi Al-Jazeera shelter center, west of Gaza City, killing one displaced person and injuring others, said the report.

Eight displaced Palestinians were also killed on Tuesday morning when Israeli aircrafts targeted the Abdel Fattah Hammoud School in central Gaza through a bombing operation, it said.

Meanwhile, Israeli aircraft bombed the UNRWA-run “Asmaa C” school in al-Shati camp near Gaza City at dawn, which had been previously targeted on June 7. The Tuesday bombing resulted in the deaths of eleven more displaced individuals, including five women and four children, the report went on to say.

MSF slams Israel for killing worker in Gaza City

The attack killed Fadi al-Wadiya, along with 5 other people including 3 children.

Euro-Med added that the Israeli military planes carried out an airstrike on the UNRWA-operated "Industry" facility on June 23, which resulted in the deaths of four humanitarian aid workers and injuries of several displaced individuals.

“All UNRWA schools’ shelter centers were set on fire and destroyed by Israeli forces during last month’s invasion of Jabalia and its refugee camp,” Euro-Med said.

“Targeting shelter centers flying the UN flag and homes housing displaced persons, as well as eliminating entire families, confirms that the Israeli military is continuing to violate the principles of distinction, necessity, proportionality, and is refusing to take any precautions to prevent civilian deaths,” it noted.

Israel has been facing international condemnation for disregarding a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. In blatant defiance of the resolution, Israel has persisted with its brutal offensive on Gaza, which was launched on October 7 last year.

The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to take measures to prevent genocide in Gaza and has issued a ruling ordering the regime to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah. Over one million Palestinians had sought refuge in the city before it was invaded on May 6.

Over eight months into Israel’s US-backed genocide, extensive areas of Gaza are now in ruins due to a severe blockade on essential supplies such as food, clean water, and medicine.

At least 37,658 people have been killed and 86,237 others wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza since October 7.

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