Israeli Airstrike Targets UNRWA Clinic in Jabalia, 19 Killed

An Israeli airstrike targeted a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) clinic in Jabalia, Gaza, killing at least 19 people, including nine children.

The facility was sheltering displaced families amid ongoing Israeli military operations.

The Israeli army confirmed the strike, stating it targeted a “command-and-control centre” for Hamas, though no evidence was provided. Israeli forces have routinely claimed their attacks focus on Hamas sites without presenting proof.

The airstrike comes as Israel expands its ground operations in Gaza, with Defence Minister Israel Katz announcing plans to capture more territory for “buffer zones.”

Since the latest offensive resumed, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed. The total Palestinian death toll from the war stands at over 50,000, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, while the Government Media Office reports over 61,500 deaths, including those presumed buried under rubble.

The humanitarian crisis continues to worsen as Israel’s blockade on Gaza enters its 31st day, forcing the closure of all bakeries, including 25 operated by the World Food Programme. UNRWA has called for an immediate ceasefire, warning of escalating suffering, while also reporting new Israeli displacement orders in Rafah, adding to the 140,000 Palestinians already forced to flee since hostilities resumed.

Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, condemned the attack on aid workers, highlighting the deaths of 408 humanitarian personnel, including over 280 from UNRWA. On March 31, Lazzarini confirmed the deaths of two UNRWA members and 8 Palestinian Red Crescent aid workers & first responders.

“No humanitarian aid has entered Gaza for more than 3 weeks now. This is longest that Gaza has been without any supplies since the war began. During the ceasefire, 500–600 trucks arrived daily. Now, nothing. Parents cannot find food for their children. The sick are without medicine. Prices are soaring. Hunger is increasing while the risk of diseases spreading is looming,” he said in a social media post on March 27.

He called for accountability, stating that targeting emergency responders and civilians violates international law.