UNRWA sheltering over 220,000 Palestinians at 88 of its schools in Gaza

By Ahmad Jouda

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - The UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said Wednesday that more than 220,000 Palestinians have taken refuge in 88 of its schools across the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, it said the numbers are still increasing due to continued Israeli airstrikes.

In an earlier statement, UNRWA said half a million people had stopped receiving vital food aid as the agency was forced to close all 14 of its food distribution centers.

Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes continued to carry out heavy airstrikes in various parts of the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Hamas group launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood early Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets and infiltrating Israel by land, air and sea.

It said the surprise attack was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and increased settler violence against Palestinians.

In retaliation, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas.

Nearly 1,200 Palestinians and 1,300 Israelis have been killed since the start of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar