Shadi Othman, spokesperson for the European Union mission in Palestine, stated on Tuesday that the ongoing attacks on civilians taking refuge in shelters are part of Israel’s war of extermination and must cease without delay.

Othman emphasised that the suffering endured by Gaza’s residents in recent months is unimaginable, encompassing severe hunger, constant threats, and the targeting of civilians in areas designated by the Israeli military as “safe” or “humanitarian.” He reiterated that the intensifying assaults on shelters are unacceptable and must end immediately.

He further noted that the European Union has repeatedly called for the protection of designated safe zones and shelters, warning that such attacks often result in mass civilian casualties. Othman affirmed that the EU, in collaboration with international partners, continues to support efforts towards achieving a ceasefire and a swift resolution to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

Over the past two days, Israeli forces have targeted four schools housing thousands of displaced individuals, killing and injuring hundreds. These assaults, part of what many describe as an ongoing genocide, have devastated the region for a second consecutive year.

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor has condemned the destruction of schools sheltering displaced people, labelling it a flagrant violation of international law, including principles of distinction, necessity, proportionality, and precaution. The observatory highlighted what it describes as a deliberate Israeli policy aimed at terrorising Palestinian civilians, stripping them of shelter and stability, and forcing them into dire living conditions.

The continued bombardment of the Gaza Strip—including areas labelled as “humanitarian zones” and UNRWA shelters—underscores a strategy designed to displace and endanger civilians further.

According to the latest statistics from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Israeli aggression has claimed the lives of 45,028 people and injured 106,962 others since October 7, 2023. Thousands remain missing, while widespread infrastructure destruction and famine have left dozens of children and elderly individuals dead.