UN Rights Office horrified by growing Israeli strikes on schools in Gaza

Over least 163 internally displaced Palestinians, including women and children, have died as a result of Israeli Defence Force (IDF) attacks on Gazan schools in the last month, a brutality that the UN human rights office, OHCHR, has voiced horror over.

At least 17 schools, according to the office, have been affected, which raises major questions about whether international humanitarian law (IHL) norms of distinction, proportionality, and prudence are being followed.

OHCHR also noted a rise in these kinds of assaults. At least seven schools have reportedly been attacked since last Monday; one of them was also allegedly used as a field hospital. All of the schools are said to be acting as shelters for internally displaced people (IDPs).

The Israeli military asserts that “Hamas operatives” were using five of the schools, but it offers no proof for this assertion.