TEHRAN- Israel has ramped up deadly attacks across the Gaza Strip over the past days striking so-called “safe zones” where the Benjamin Netanyahu regime has ordered Palestinians to evacuate to for their safety.

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said on Wednesday that more than 80 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in the last 24 hours. This brings the total death toll from Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza that began on October 7 to nearly 38,800. 

On Wednesday, the Israeli army and fighter jets hit residential buildings in areas such as the Nuseirat refugee camp which is hosting thousands of Palestinian families.

According to the ministry, about 90,000 Palestinians have also been wounded in the Israeli onslaught which entered its 285th day on Wednesday. 

In addition to targeting residential houses, religious sites and hospitals, United Nations-run schools have not been spared from Israeli strikes. 

More than two dozen people were killed on Tuesday when Israel bombed the al-Razi school, which is run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in the central Nuseirat refugee camp. 

At least 17 others lost their lives in the same day during Israeli attacks in al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Israel also pounded al-Mawasi on Saturday killing at least 90 Palestinians. 

According to US-based defense think tanks, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Critical Threats Project (CTP), Israel dropped eight 2,000-pound bombs in its attack on the al-Mawasi area on Saturday. 

The regime has repeatedly struck al-Mawasi despite designating it a “safe-zone” and instructing Palestinians fleeing ground assaults to take refuge there.

Schools are not a target!

UNRWA’s commissioner has taken a jab at Israel for bombing schools in Gaza.  

“An almost daily occurrence. At least eight schools hit in the last 10 days, including six @UNRWA schools,” Philippe Lazzarini said on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday. 

He added, “Schools must never be used for fighting or military purposes by any party to the conflict. Schools are not a target. The blatant & constant disregard of international humanitarian law continues unabated. All rules of war have been broken in #Gaza. Losing our common humanity must not become the new norm.”

UNRWA also said on Tuesday that Israel has hit nearly 70 percent of its schools in Gaza since October 7.

 “Over 95% of these schools were used as shelters when hit. 539 people sheltering in UNRWA facilities have been killed. Nowhere is safe. The blatant disregard for @UN premises and humanitarian law must stop,” the UN agency wrote on X. 

UNRWA has accused Israel of blatant disregard for international humanitarian law. Other UN bodies have leveled similar accusations against the Israeli regime. 

The International Criminal Court has requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his war minister Yoav Gallant for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. 

Israel also stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. 

Slap in the face to intl. law 

In a historic decision on January 26, the ICJ ordered Israel to “take all measures within its power” to prevent acts that fall within the scope of the genocide convention. It also said the regime must ensure “with immediate effect” that its forces do not commit any of the acts covered by the convention.

Israel has not only refused to comply with the ruling of the UN's top court but also perpetrated cold-blooded massacres in Gaza including in al-Mawasi.

When the ICJ ordered Israel to stop acts of genocide in late January, the death toll in Gaza was about 26,100. 

A comparison with the current death toll shows that Israel has killed more than 2,500 Palestinians every month since the ICJ issued its order.  

This indicates that the Netanyahu regime has no scruples about flouting international law. The continuation of Israeli massacres in Gaza also amounts to a slap in the face to international organizations.

Such flagrant disregard for UN bodies is rooted in the unwavering support provided to Israel by Western countries, particularly the United States. 

Israel is slaughtering Palestinians with impunity as the West remains reluctant to take action to stop the regime’s killing machine.