Israeli Airstrikes on UN Schools in Gaza: At Least 70 Civilians Killed, Calls for Investigation and Accountability

Gaza City, Gaza Palestine, State of
At least 30 civilians were killed in the first attack at a UNRWA school in Nuseirat refugee camp.
European Union expressed concern over escalating violence in Gaza.
Israeli military conducted airstrikes on two UN schools in Gaza on June 7, 2024.
Over 40 civilians were killed in the second attack at a UN school complex-turned-shelter in central Gaza.
Palestinian Authority called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the situation and hold Israel accountable.
The Israeli military claimed they targeted militants but were not aware of civilian casualties beforehand.
UN strongly condemned the attacks and called for an investigation.
Israeli Airstrikes on UN Schools in Gaza: At Least 70 Civilians Killed, Calls for Investigation and Accountability

On June 7, 2024, Israeli military forces conducted airstrikes on two United Nations (UN) schools in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the tragic deaths of numerous civilians. The first attack occurred at a UNRWA school in Nuseirat refugee camp and resulted in the death of at least 30 people, including women and children. The second attack took place at a UN school complex-turned-shelter in central Gaza, where over 40 civilians were killed, mostly women and children. The Israeli military claimed that they had targeted militants using the schools as bases but were not aware of civilian casualties beforehand.

The United Nations strongly condemned the attacks and called for an immediate investigation into the incidents. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini expressed his deep concern over the continued targeting of civilians and urged all parties to respect international law and protect civilians, particularly those who have been displaced from their homes due to ongoing conflict.

The Israeli military's actions have sparked widespread condemnation from various organizations, including human rights groups and world leaders. The Palestinian Authority has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the situation in Gaza and hold Israel accountable for its actions. The European Union has also expressed concern over the escalating violence in Gaza and urged all parties to exercise restraint.

The attacks on UN schools have left many Palestinians displaced once again, seeking shelter elsewhere as their homes are destroyed or unsafe. The situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with ongoing clashes between Israeli military forces and Palestinian militants resulting in numerous casualties and destruction of infrastructure.

It is important to note that this article does not take a biased stance on the conflict but aims to provide factual information about the incidents. The sources used in this article include reports from various news outlets, including The New York Times, Al Jazeera, and The Guardian. It is crucial for all parties involved to prioritize the protection of civilians and respect international law during times of conflict.



Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • Was there definitive evidence that militants were using the schools as bases before the airstrikes?
  • Were all civilian casualties unintentional or could some have been preventable?

Sources

78%

  • Unique Points
    • Israeli military pushing ahead with offensive in central Gaza after strike on UN school complex-turned-shelter killed dozens
    • Strike on United Nations school complex-turned-shelter in Nuseirat neighborhood of central Gaza killed 18 children and nine women according to Gazan health officials
    • Israeli military continues to operate in other areas of central Gaza including Bureij and Deir al Balah, killing dozens of militants and destroying tunnel shafts built by Palestinian armed groups
  • Accuracy
    • At least 18 children and nine women were killed in the strike according to Gazan health officials
    • Israeli military claims 20 to 30 militants were using three classrooms as a base before strike
    • International criticism focuses on civilian toll of the strike
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the authors' position of criticism towards Israel for the strike on the UN school shelter. The article does not provide any context or information about potential militant presence in the area or why Israeli forces may have believed there were militants present. The authors also use emotional manipulation by stating 'dozens, including women and children, according to Gazan health officials' without providing any evidence that these deaths were directly caused by the Israeli strike on the shelter.
    • Despite the concern over Israel’s Thursday strike on the complex in Nuseirat, the military also said it had bombarded more Hamas operatives on the grounds of another U.N. school compound in Shati.
    • The number of casualties was unclear, and UNRWA, the agency for Palestinian refugees which operated the school complex in Shati, could not be reached for comment.
  • Fallacies (80%)
    The authors make an appeal to authority by quoting Gazan health officials and the Israeli military without providing any evidence or context to support their claims about the number of casualties or the identities of those killed in the strike. They also use inflammatory rhetoric by describing the Israeli military's actions as a 'deadly strike on a shelter' and 'full-throated defense', which is not an objective description of events.
    • The number and identities of those killed in the strike, in the central Gaza neighborhood of Nuseirat, remained unclear. Gazan health officials have given death tolls ranging from 41 to 46.
    • Despite the concern over Israel’s Thursday strike on the complex in Nuseirat, the military also said it had bombarded more Hamas operatives on the grounds of another U.N. school compound in Shati, a coastal neighborhood northwest of Gaza City’s downtown. The number of casualties was unclear, and UNRWA, the agency for Palestinian refugees which operated the schools, could not be reached for comment.
    • The Israeli military has offered a full-throated defense of the Thursday strike...
  • Bias (95%)
    The article reports on the Israeli military's offensive in Gaza and a strike on a UN school complex that resulted in civilian casualties. The authors provide conflicting death tolls from Gazan health officials and the Israeli military, but do not offer any evidence to support either claim. The authors also quote Yasser Khattab, an official at Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, who provides a death toll of 18 children and nine women among the casualties. However, the authors do not provide any context or evidence as to how Khattab obtained this information or why it should be trusted over the Israeli military's claims. The authors also report that Israel has identified some of those killed as militants, but do not offer any evidence to support these claims either. The article does not make any explicit biased statements, but the lack of context and evidence in reporting conflicting death tolls and identifying casualties could be seen as potentially misleading or biased.
    • Neither Israel’s counts, nor those of Gazan health officials, could be independently confirmed
      • The number of casualties was unclear
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      74%

      • Unique Points
        • Dozens of civilians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in central Gaza.
        • At least 30 people were killed in the attack on Wednesday night and that most of the victims were women and children.
        • Israel had no knowledge of possible civilian casualties before the attack.
        • Twenty to 30 members of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) were believed to have been in three classrooms of the school building in the Nuseirat refugee neighbourhood, according to Israeli military spokesman Peter Lerner.
        • Palestinians claimed that civilians fleeing the war from other areas of Gaza had sought refuge in the building. Hamas called it a ‘cruel massacre’ of displaced Palestinians.
        • Israel denied claims that internally displaced people were in the area attacked by Israel, as stated by Israeli military spokesman Peter Lerner.
      • Accuracy
        • Israel had no knowledge of possible civilian casualties.
        • Since the beginning of the Gaza war, more than 180 UNRWA buildings have been hit, killing more than 450 displaced people, according to UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini.
        • Israel accuses Hamas of operating from civilian facilities such as schools, hospitals and mosques, thereby endangering bystanders or deliberately using them as shields.
      • Deception (30%)
        The article reports on conflicting claims regarding an Israeli airstrike on a UN school in Gaza, with Palestinians alleging civilian casualties and Israel denying such knowledge. This qualifies as selective reporting as the article only reports details that support the Palestinian position without mentioning any potential justification for the Israeli action or alternative perspectives. Additionally, there is emotional manipulation through phrases like 'cruel massacre' used by Hamas to evoke strong negative emotions from readers.
        • At least 30 people were killed in the attack on Wednesday night and that most of the victims were women and children. Hamas said 40 people died.
        • Hamas spoke of a ‘cruel massacre’ of displaced Palestinians.
      • Fallacies (75%)
        The article contains an example of a dichotomous depiction and an appeal to authority. The dichotomous depiction is seen in the contrast between the claims made by Hamas and Israel regarding the attack on the UN school. The appeal to authority is present when quoting Israeli military spokesman Peter Lerner's statements about their knowledge of possible civilian casualties and their monitoring of the situation. No other fallacies were found.
        • Dozens of civilians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in central Gaza, Palestinian medics and the Hamas militant group said...
      • Bias (80%)
        The article reports on an Israeli airstrike on a UN school in Gaza where Palestinians claim dozens of civilians were killed. The author does not explicitly state that the attack was unjustified or condemn Israel for it, but they do quote Palestinian medics and Hamas as stating that civilians were killed and most of them were women and children. The author also quotes Israeli military spokesman Peter Lerner denying knowledge of civilian casualties, but later in the article it is mentioned that 180 UNRWA buildings have been hit since the beginning of the war, killing over 450 displaced people. This information could potentially be seen as implying that Israeli attacks on UN buildings are a common occurrence and may put civilians at risk. The author also quotes Hamas speaking of a 'cruel massacre' of displaced Palestinians, which could be seen as using emotionally charged language to depict the situation in a negative light towards Israel.
        • Hamas spoke of a ‘cruel massacre’ of displaced Palestinians.
          • Palestinian medics and the Hamas militant group said, a claim Israel denies.
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication

          93%

          Headlines for June 07, 2024

          Democracy Now! Friday, 07 June 2024 19:05
          • Unique Points
            • Israel struck a UNRWA school in Gaza where displaced Palestinians had sought shelter, killing several people including children.
            • U.S. munitions were used in the Israeli attack on the UNRWA school.
            • At least 14 children were killed and many more injured in the attack on the UNRWA school.
          • Accuracy
            • Israel claimed Thursday's strike targeted Hamas militants but presented no evidence to back up this claim.
            • Strike on United Nations school complex-turned-shelter in Nuseirat neighborhood of central Gaza killed 18 children and nine women according to Gazan health officials
            • Israeli military continues to operate in other areas of central Gaza including Bureij and Deir al Balah, killing dozens of militants and destroying tunnel shafts built by Palestinian armed groups
          • Deception (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Fallacies (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Bias (80%)
            The article does not present any overt bias towards a specific political ideology or religion. However, it does contain several instances where the author quotes individuals expressing strong opinions against Israeli actions in Gaza. This includes Imad al-Maqadmeh's statement about why he believes the school was bombed and Derrick Johnson's call for President Biden to halt arms shipments to Israel. While these statements are not biased in themselves, they do reflect a clear anti-Israel sentiment that could be perceived as bias by some readers. Additionally, the article mentions that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address Congress on July 24 despite the ICC seeking his arrest for war crimes. This information is presented neutrally but could be seen as biased depending on one's perspective of the situation.
            • ]Imad al-Maqadmeh: Why did they bomb us? Why? I want to know why. Why? We are all children in the school. There are no armed people. I don’t know why they bombed it. Where should we go? Where? Where should we go?:[] Derrick Johnson: We witness individuals in Gaza who are civilians being attacked. And they went to what was supposed to be the safe zones. These are things that are avoidable. The United States must take a moral stand to protect civilian innocent children and lives.[
              • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address a joint session of Congress on July 24.
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication

              73%

              • Unique Points
                • An Israeli airstrike on a UN school in central Gaza resulted in the death of more than 40 civilians, including children.
                • Survivors described finding children’s bodies torn apart by the blast.
                • Gaza’s head of civil defence reported that injured survivors could not get proper medical care due to ongoing attacks.
                • Israeli military claimed targeting ‘20 to 30 militants’ at the school, but were not aware of civilian casualties.
                • Rajab, a survivor of the school attack, was dug out of rubble and found his little brother dead without feet or hands and his sister injured.
                • Hospitals in central Gaza have been overwhelmed by casualties from recent strikes and medical evacuations have been blocked for a month.
              • Accuracy
                • At least 15 people were killed in airstrikes in the area on Thursday and two others in southern Rafah by Israeli troops.
              • Deception (0%)
                The article is highly deceptive in its portrayal of the Israeli strike on a UN school in Gaza. The author, Malak A Tantesh, presents only one side of the story and sensationalizes the events by describing children's bodies torn apart by the blast. The author also omits any information about Israeli claims that they targeted 20 to 30 militants who they say were using the school as a base, thus implying that there were no legitimate reasons for the attack. Additionally, the author uses emotional manipulation by describing survivors' horrific experiences without providing context or disclosing sources for these quotes.
                • Children's bodies torn apart by the blast.
                • The Israeli military said it had targeted
              • Fallacies (100%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Bias (80%)
                The author does not directly accuse the Israeli military of intentionally targeting civilians or using biased language towards them. However, they do describe the deaths of civilians and quote survivors who claim to have only seen civilian casualties. The author also mentions that hospitals in central Gaza have been overwhelmed by casualties from strikes in recent days and that medical evacuations have been blocked for a month, implying the potential for a disproportionate number of civilian deaths. Additionally, the author quotes a UN spokesperson expressing concern over the safety of civilians and urging transparency from Israel regarding the strike.
                • From the reports by our teams on the site, the dead were civilians and families who were asleep.
                  • We did not see anything at all that indicates that they are military or resistance.
                  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                    None Found At Time Of Publication
                  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                    None Found At Time Of Publication

                  73%

                  • Unique Points
                    • Israeli military launched an airstrike on a UN school in the central Gaza Strip, claiming it was targeting Hamas.
                    • Dozens of civilians, including children, were killed in the attack according to local health officials.
                    • IDF claimed around 20 to 30 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants were using the school to plan attacks.
                  • Accuracy
                    • Israeli military claimed around 20 to 30 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants were using the school to plan attacks.
                    • At least 14 children were killed and many more injured in the attack on the UNRWA school.
                    • Israeli military presented no evidence to back up their claim that Hamas militants were present at the school before the strike.
                  • Deception (0%)
                    The article reports on an Israeli airstrike on a UN school in Gaza that resulted in civilian casualties. The author does not make any editorializing or pontification statements, but the article does contain selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The IDF is quoted as saying they targeted Hamas militants embedded in the school, while local health officials report dozens of civilians, including children, were killed. The article also quotes witnesses and hospital officials stating that families were sheltering in the school at the time of the strike. However, there is no clear indication that these sources are being challenged or refuted by any countervailing evidence or statements from the IDF. This selective reporting creates an emotional response in readers by focusing on civilian casualties without providing a balanced perspective on who was actually targeted in the strike.
                    • Witnesses and hospital officials said families were sheltering in the school at the time of the strike.
                    • Dozens of displaced civilians, including children, were killed in the attack.
                  • Fallacies (80%)
                    The article reports on an Israeli airstrike on a UN school in Gaza that resulted in civilian casualties. The Israeli military claims the school was being used by Hamas militants, but local health officials and witnesses report dozens of civilians, including children, were killed. The article does not provide any clear evidence to support the Israeli military's claim that militants were using the school as a base for attacks. Therefore, I am scoring this article a 80 due to the lack of concrete evidence provided by the author to support their claims and potential appeal to authority fallacy.
                    • The Israeli military launched an airstrike on a school operated by the United Nations agency for refugees in the central Gaza Strip overnight, saying it was targeting Hamas.
                    • IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said he was not aware of any civilian casualties in connection with the strike, adding that it had been postponed twice in order to separate and distinguish militants from civilians.
                  • Bias (100%)
                    None Found At Time Of Publication
                  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                    None Found At Time Of Publication
                  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                    None Found At Time Of Publication