Six UNRWA staff killed in Israeli strike on Gaza school

Israeli airstrikes on a school in Gaza that was being used as a shelter for displaced families resulted in the deaths of six United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) staff members and several civilians, the agency confirmed on Tuesday. The strike hit the Al‑Maqdisi school in the northern Gaza Strip, where dozens of families had taken refuge after their homes were destroyed in the ongoing conflict that began in October 2023. UNRWA officials said the victims included three teachers, two medical personnel and one logistics officer, alongside an unknown number of civilians who were sheltering in the compound.

The incident comes as humanitarian needs in Gaza continue to surge, with UNRWA reporting that more than half of its 1.4 million registered refugees are now dependent on emergency assistance for food, water and medical care. The agency has called for an independent investigation into the strike and urged all parties to respect the protection of civilian infrastructure and humanitarian workers under international law. The loss of UN staff underscores the heightened risks faced by aid personnel operating in the densely populated enclave, where access to safe zones remains limited.