School strike kills UN staff as civilian casualties and health needs surge in Gaza

An Israeli strike on a school used as a shelter for displaced families in Gaza killed six UN workers, bringing the total UNRWA staff deaths since the October 2023 conflict to at least 220. Acting Commissioner‑General Christian Saunders said the safety of humanitarian personnel, premises and operations has been blatantly disregarded from the war’s outset, warning that continued impunity threatens the relevance of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions.

Since the fragile ceasefire that began on 10 October 2025, local authorities have recorded 1,334 deaths and 4,429 injuries across Gaza. Nine in ten residents are now internally displaced, many repeatedly, leading to severe overcrowding. OCHA reports limited access to safe water and sanitation is heightening the risk of respiratory infections, acute watery diarrhoea and acute jaundice syndrome, while funding shortages and material restrictions hamper winter preparedness at displacement sites. The WHO estimates about one in four people require acute and ongoing medical care, including treatment for severe injuries, amputations and burns.

UNICEF documented multiple child fatalities in the past week, including sisters aged 6 and 12 killed with their parents in Beit Lahia, an 8‑year‑old in Gaza City, and a pregnant mother with her unborn child in Khan Younis. Gunfire in Deir Al Balah and Khan Younis claimed the lives of a 3‑year‑old and a 9‑year‑old, while a 14‑year‑old injured by an airstrike later died. At least 13 children were injured during the same period. UNICEF stressed that every child must be protected and called for an immediate halt to the killings.