Belgium says ‘devastating’ airstrike on UNRWA school in Gaza ‘appalling, unacceptable’ act of violence

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) – The Belgian foreign minister on Thursday described the recent airstrike on a school owned by the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza as “appalling and unacceptable.”

“The devastating airstrike on a #UNRWA school in #Gaza is an appalling and unacceptable act of violence,” Hadja Lahbib said on X.

She urged on all sides to “respect civilian infrastructure,” while adding: “This tragedy reminds us of the urgency to end the violence.”

The Israeli strike early Thursday on the school sheltering displaced Palestinians in central Gaza killed 39 people, according to health authorities in the blockaded enclave.

Besides killing more than 36,000 Palestinians in Gaza since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that claimed 1,200 lives, the Israeli military campaign has turned much of the enclave of 2.3 million people into ruins, leaving most civilians homeless and at risk of famine.