At least 18 people were killed, according to the UN human rights office, and many more could be killed in the rubble of the three-storey building.OHCHR).
The murders “highlighted another escalation of violence”, Spokesperson for Secretary General Stéphane Dujarric told journalists during the regular news briefing at UN headquarters in New York on Friday.
UN chief António Guterres also called for strict compliance with international law.
“Citizens and civilian infrastructure sometimes need to be protected,” Mr. Dujarric said.
He also noted the UN chief’s call “to meet urgently to address the escalating cycle of violence, and work towards ending the occupation and returning to a track for the two-state solution, which remains the only just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
“The bloodshed we are seeing must end.”
UN teams and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are coordinating a visit to the area to assess damage and humanitarian needs.
Systematic resort to lethal force
The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) also denounced the attack, calling it “another clear example” of the Israeli Security Forces (ISF) “resort to lethal violence in the West Bank, which is often unnecessary, disproportionate and therefore unlawful.”
“Destroying an entire building full of people through aerial bombardment shows blatant disregard for Israel’s obligations,” OHCHR said in one statement released on Friday.
It called on Israel to conduct a thorough, prompt, independent and transparent investigation into the incident and hold perpetrators of violations accountable.
There were no clashes or confrontations at the site, and according to information collected by OHCHR, most of those killed were not armed or wanted by Israeli security forces. A majority were murdered in their homes or simply walking along the street.
Israeli forces claimed to have killed a local Hamas leader who was reportedly planning to carry out attacks on Israeli settlements, as well as other suspected terrorists.
Very worrying pattern
OHCHR further noted that the attack was part of “a deeply concerning pattern” of unlawful use of force by Israeli forces during military-style operations in the West Bank, which has caused widespread harm to Palestinians, as well as significant damage to buildings and infrastructure .
Since October 7, 2023 – when Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups attacked communities in southern Israel – Israeli forces have killed 697 Palestinians, including 161 children and 12 women, in the West Banksaid OHCHR. Of these, 186 deaths were due to air strikes.
In Tulkarem alone, 174 Palestinians have been killed, including 88 by airstrikes.
“Such incidents cannot be normalized as an acceptable method of law enforcement,” OHCHR said.
Attacks on schools in Gaza
Meanwhile, in Gaza, the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said Friday that three of its schools had been hit in the past two days, reportedly killing 20 people. The schools housed approximately 20,000 people.
The agency added that more than 140 of its schools have been attacked since the start of the war, stressing that schools are not targets and cannot be used by anyone for military purposes.
According to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates, At least 87 percent of Gaza’s school buildings have been directly affected or damaged since October last yearincluding a third of UNRWA schools.
Humanitarians must be able to save lives
UN Aid Coordination Office, OCHAsaid on Wednesday they had visited the site of an attack the previous night in the Maan area, east of Khan Younis, Mr Dujarric told journalists.
“Our colleagues report that ambulances trying to evacuate the injured were unable to reach them due to the ongoing raid,” he said.
“Hours later, when first responders were finally able to gain access to the area, their The bulldozer ran out of fuel while pulling bodies from the rubble.”
He reiterated that emergency teams in Gaza must have the equipment, fuel and, above all, the safe and unhindered access they need to save lives.