Human Rights Watch: ‘Israel’ Bombed Over 500 Schools Shelterings Displaced in Gaza

GAZA – Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported on Thursday that Zionist forces have bombed more than 500 schools that were serving as shelters for displaced Palestinians across the Gaza Strip since the war began on October 7, 2023.

These strikes have led to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinian civilians and have either completely destroyed or severely damaged all targeted schools. In its statement, HRW stressed that the deliberate targeting of schools converted into shelters forms part of a broader military offensive aimed at destroying Gaza’s remaining civilian infrastructure. This has resulted in the repeated displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and has worsened the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the territory.

The organization emphasized that the Zionist bombardment of schools underscores the complete absence of safe spaces for displaced persons, who now make up the majority of Gaza’s population. HRW further stated that these attacks have denied civilians access to secure shelter and disrupted education for thousands of children. The group warned that rebuilding the educational sector will require substantial resources and time.

Human Rights Watch concluded its statement by calling for an arms embargo on the Zionist entity and urgent action to enforce the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.