UNRWA: Nearly 74,000 Palestinians displaced in Gaza amid conflict
Over 1,100 killed in mutual attacks between Hamas, Israel since Saturday, according to UN refugee agency
In the midst of ongoing Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, thousands of Palestinians have been forced to leave their homes, as reported by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on Monday.
According to UNRWA, approximately 74,000 displaced individuals have sought refuge in 64 of their shelters.
Regrettably, a school that had been providing shelter to more than 225 Palestinians was damaged during an Israeli airstrike on Sunday, although there were no reported casualties.
UNRWA emphasized the critical need to safeguard civilians throughout this conflict, including during active hostilities.
They also stressed the importance of preserving schools and other civilian infrastructure, especially those serving as safe havens for displaced families, which should never be targeted.
The escalation of the situation began on Saturday when Hamas launched a multi-front attack on Israeli towns near the Palestinian territory. Hamas cited Israeli violations in the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem and increased settler violence as the reasons behind their attack. In response, Israel carried out a series of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.
Tragically, the conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life, with over 1,100 people killed, including 700 Israelis and over 430 Palestinians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to use all of Israel’s strength to destroy Hamas’ capabilities and “take revenge for this black day.”
