Ref: 74/2020

Date: 16 August 2020

Time: 11:00 GMT

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights  (PCHR) follows with deep concern the ongoing escalation of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, the latest of which targeted a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) school in Gaza City. PCHR fears for the lives of Palestinian civilians as these attacks continue and warns of their impact on the overall economic and social rights of the Gaza Strip population.

According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 02:10 on Thursday, 13 August 2020, Israeli military warplanes launched a missile at al-Shati Joint Primary School (D – Z) – UNRWA, adjacent to al-Shati Clinic in al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City. As a result, the missile exploded in the third floor of the school’s southern side, causing severe damage in the teachers’ room and a number of classroom doors, and windows. Consequently, the school’s activities and lessons were disrupted to this date. These attacks  are part of  IOF ongoing attacks targeting Palestinian civilians, especially that the school is located in a civilian and densely populated area is with no military objectives around it and does not pose a threat to IOF. This requires an apology from the Israeli authorities and UNRWA should publish the results of its investigation as promised in its initial statement.

PCHR condemns IOF’s continued attacks against Palestinian civilians, facilities and civilian objects in the Gaza Strip  and  reiterates its call upon the international community to take immediate action to put an end to the Israeli crimes. PCHR also reiterates its call upon the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under Article 1; i.e., to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances and their obligations under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention.