The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) condemned the Israeli killing of four Palestinian refugee children near the Beit Hanoun refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip.

All four children came from the same family, two siblings and two cousins. They were under the age of 12 and attended UNRWA schools. They were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beit Hanoun that also led to the killing of 20 people, nine of them were children.

"Our hearts go out to their families and friends in communities that have been so cruelly affected by this latest escalation," said UNRWA in a press statement.

UNRWA said "it repeats its profound concern regarding the impact of the military escalation on children by placing their lives and futures at risk. Children are and must be protected under International Law and those responsible for breaching their obligations must be held fully accountable on the basis of clear evidence."

"The Agency yet again appeals to all parties to exercise maximum restraint and comply with their obligations under International Law in the strictest terms, including with regard to protecting the inherent right to life of children," it added.

UNRWA provides critical services to more than 1.4 million Palestine refugees in Gaza and remains committed to delivering quality education to some 285,000 Palestine refugee students there. Despite the dire humanitarian conditions in the Strip, ongoing blockade and very high COVID-19 infection rates, students are still able to access a UNRWA education.