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Today's Paper | March 19, 2026

Published 16 Jul, 2024 10:30am

Flattening of UNRWA HQ in Gaza ‘speaks volumes’ for disregard of international law

UNRWA spokesperson Tamara Alrifai said attacks over the past week in Gaza have been some of the bloodiest so far, and the destruction of the UNRWA headquarters in Gaza demonstrates Israel’s disregard for the law in its war on the territory.

“The last week has been one of the deadliest weeks in Gaza since the war started. The images that are coming out of the UNRWA headquarters are really shocking,” al-Rifai told Al Jazeera.

“It speaks volumes to the blatant disregard for international humanitarian law because to date 190 — one, nine, zero — of UNRWA’s facilities in Gaza, most of which serve as shelters for displaced people, 190 have been damaged during the conflict, killing more than 500 people inside them,” al-Rifai said.

The people who seek shelter at UNRWA facilities “are looking for protection inside a UN building, under a UN flag”, she said, adding that more than 1,600 people have also been injured in attacks on buildings that are protected by international law.

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