Six UN staff killed in Gaza school strike; Lebanon violations mount
Gaza school strike deepens humanitarian alarm as violence continues
Qinilo.com – Six UN workers and other civilians were killed when Israeli strikes hit a school in Gaza that was serving as a refuge for displaced families, intensifying concerns for civilians and aid personnel caught in the conflict.
The deaths add to the devastating toll on the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA. Since the Hamas-Israel war began in October 2023, at least 220 of the agency’s staff members have been killed in Gaza. The loss of humanitarian workers also places further strain on services supporting a population facing repeated displacement, damaged infrastructure and severe shortages.
“The longer impunity prevails, the more international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions will become irrelevant,”
UNRWA Acting Commissioner-General Christian Saunders said humanitarian staff, facilities and operations have been openly disregarded throughout the war. His warning highlights the broader significance of protecting aid workers and civilian sites, particularly schools and shelters that have become places of last resort for families forced from their homes.
Ceasefire period has not ended civilian suffering
A fragile ceasefire agreement took effect on 10 October 2025, yet Gaza has continued to experience deadly violence. Local authorities have recorded 1,334 deaths and 4,429 injuries since the agreement began, while military activity has persisted across the territory.
Airstrikes, shelling, gunfire and naval fire were observed over the weekend in all parts of Gaza. Activity was especially intense west of the so-called “yellow line”, established by Israel at the beginning of the ceasefire arrangement. Attacks on populated locations have continued to cause deaths, injuries, destruction of property and additional displacement.
Nearly nine out of every 10 people in Gaza are now internally displaced. Many have been forced to move more than once, creating a cycle in which families leave one unsafe area only to seek shelter in overcrowded sites with limited basic services.
Conditions in those sites are worsening public-health risks. Overcrowding, insufficient shelter, and restricted access to clean water and sanitation are contributing to the spread of communicable illnesses. Respiratory infections, acute watery diarrhoea and acute jaundice syndrome are among the main concerns.
Preparations for winter remain severely limited at crowded displacement locations because funding is inadequate and essential materials face restrictions on entry. Delays and denials involving engine oil and spare parts also threaten systems that depend on generators, including water supply, sanitation, health care and waste management.
Children remain among those killed and injured
The toll on children remains particularly acute. During the previous seven days in Gaza, attacks killed several children and left many more injured.
In Beit Lahia, sisters Bana, 6, and Lana, 12, were killed with their parents in an airstrike as they slept. In Khan Younis, gunfire killed a pregnant mother and her unborn baby. Saadi, 3, and Obaida, 9, were also killed by gunfire in Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis.
Hilal, 14, was injured in an airstrike in Khan Younis on Thursday and died from those injuries the following day. Three additional children died from wounds sustained earlier, while at least 13 children were injured.
“Every child must be protected,” UNICEF said. “The killing must stop.”
The need for medical care is expanding at the same time that Gaza’s health system faces immense pressure. About one in four people in the enclave may have acute and continuing care requirements, including people living with severe trauma injuries, amputations, burns, and head or spinal cord injuries. Such needs often require long-term treatment, rehabilitation and specialist support, making disruptions to health services especially consequential.
UNIFIL records violations and military activity in Lebanon
Across the border in Lebanon, UN peacekeepers continue to observe Israeli military activity within Lebanese territory, in the air and at sea. The developments underline the fragile security situation in southern Lebanon, where UNIFIL operates under its mandate to help maintain stability and support implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions.
One major concern is the ongoing use of explosive-filled jerrycans. From Thursday through Sunday, UNIFIL peacekeepers saw Israeli drones drop such devices near Al Mansuri. Every device later exploded, with at least nine blasts recorded on Saturday alone.
Peacekeepers also documented numerous incursions into Lebanese airspace. Drones accounted for most of these incidents, though fighter jets were also involved and a helicopter was observed on one occasion. Within UNIFIL’s area of operations, at least 32 airstrikes were logged during the same period.
Other military activity included extensive artillery fire, troop deployments, engineering operations and vehicle movements in both sectors. Israeli patrol boats were seen daily in Lebanese waters off Naqoura.
Restrictions on peacekeepers’ movement remain a serious operational issue. On Sunday, Israeli personnel held a UNIFIL patrol for two hours northeast of Kafer Chouba. Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Farhan Haq stressed that peacekeepers must be able to perform their mandated duties without obstruction.
Despite the security risks, UNIFIL has continued assisting humanitarian work. In coordination with OCHA, the force facilitated 16 humanitarian missions on Thursday and Friday, helping aid operations continue in an environment marked by persistent military activity and uncertainty.
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