Egypt condemns UNRWA school targeting in Gaza, slams int’l community for failing to uphold its values

CAIRO – 13 September 2024: Egypt has strongly denounced the continuous Israeli targeting and bombing of schools and facilities belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip, describing it as a blatant disregard for international law.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, Egypt condemned the recent attack on the Al-Jaouni school in the Nuseirat refugee camp, which killed dozens of civilians, including six UNRWA personnel.

Reports indicate that the Israeli airstrikes on the Al-Jaouni school on Wednesday claimed the lives of 34 individuals, including six UNRWA staff members, women, and children, and left many others wounded in the Nuseirat refugee camp of central Gaza, which provides shelter to thousands of displaced Palestinians.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the incident as "totally unacceptable," calling for an immediate halt to these severe violations of international humanitarian law.

What's happening in Gaza is totally unacceptable.

A school turned shelter for around 12,000 people was hit by Israeli airstrikes again today.

Six of our @UNRWA colleagues are among those killed.

These dramatic violations of international humanitarian law need to stop now.

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) September 11, 2024

In its statement, Egypt emphasized that the persistent targeting of international humanitarian organizations and facilities without consequences or accountability represents a significant breach of international law.

Egypt stressed the urgent need to halt the crimes and violations suffered by innocent individuals in the occupied Palestinian territories and address their underlying causes promptly.

“This [situation] stands as a stark example of the current international system's failure to defend its principles and values in a non-selective manner, jeopardizing its credibility and sustainability and necessitating action by the United Nations Security Council,” the statement said.

Egypt urged all influential international parties to intensify their efforts to ensure Israeli compliance with international humanitarian obligations.

The foreign ministry asserted that safeguarding lives and restoring the fundamental rights denied to the Palestinian people must be a paramount concern for the global community.

“This should replace mere lip service to human rights values in a selective manner that contradicts their universality and inclusivity,” the ministry added.

Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, Israeli forces have targeted vital infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, displacing the majority of the 2.2 million inhabitants and pushing the region to the brink of famine.

A survey conducted by the Education Cluster in July, comprising various aid organizations led by UNICEF and Save the Children, revealed that more than 90% of Gaza's school buildings have suffered severe or partial damage, with over half of the schools accommodating displaced individuals being hit.

Despite widespread international appeals for a ceasefire, the Israeli war has continued for more than 11 months, killing over 41,000 individuals and injuring more than 95,000 others in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the enclave on Thursday.