Israeli tanks reportedly targeted a significant U.N. compound in Gaza, resulting in a high number of casualties, as stated by the United Nations. While Israel denies responsibility, proposing the possibility of Hamas launching the shelling, the U.S. has expressed strong condemnation, emphasizing the imperative need to protect civilians and humanitarian workers.
The attack specifically struck a vocational training center in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, a major city, housing around 30,000 displaced individuals. The United Nations described the situation as a dire one, with mass casualties, buildings ablaze, and challenges for people attempting to flee the scene. The Humanitarian Coordinator for the Palestinian Territory, James McGoldrick, highlighted the severity of the situation, underlining the reports of deaths and the overall chaos.
Thomas White, director of Gaza affairs for the U.N. agency UNRWA, provided additional details, stating that two tank rounds hit one of the center’s buildings where approximately 800 displaced individuals sought shelter.
The resulting toll included at least nine fatalities and 75 wounded, with expectations that the death count could be higher. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the agency, condemned the incident, emphasizing the clear marking of the U.N. facility and the sharing of its coordinates with Israeli authorities.
The U.S. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel deplored the attack, stressing the protection of civilians and the necessity to respect the safeguarded nature of U.N. facilities. While Israel initially characterized the wider Khan Younis area as a Hamas base and acknowledged ongoing fighting near civilians, a second statement from the military-ruled out Israeli forces’ involvement in the strike. The military suggested an ongoing review to investigate the possibility of the strike resulting from Hamas fire.
The attack occurred during Israel’s largest ground offensive in at least a month, with Khan Younis encircled, where hundreds of thousands of people displaced from other areas in Gaza sought refuge. Israel’s announcements urging residents to leave came after the operation had started, limiting the viable evacuation routes.
As night fell, U.N. staff remained unable to reach the area, with all communications shut down. The besieged city and its main hospitals faced severe challenges due to the Israeli offensive, hindering rescuers’ access to the wounded and the deceased. The situation further underscores the complex dynamics of the conflict, with conflicting reports and challenges in assessing responsibility for the strikes.
