Airstrikes sent by the Israeli military rocked the United Nations shelters in Gaza early this morning, according to a UN official. The official continued to say that at least one person was killed and several were wounded in the attack. The attacks come as Israel announced a complete encirclement of Gaza City with military operations, which have already displaced tens of thousands of people.
The airstrikes are part of an increased military operation by the government of Israel against Hamas following the death of three Israeli teenagers in late June, which it blames the militant group for planning. Since then, several airstrikes have been conducted against fuel suppliers, residential homes, and university compounds. Now, UN shelters in Gaza have been targeted for the first time, though the Israeli government has not officially commented on the attacks.
The international community has expressed alarm at the situation in Gaza due to the deaths and displacement of thousands of people, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for an end to the violence, with a commitment to peace and security in the region. The US has also called for an end to the violence, but has also condemned Hamas for its role in the conflict, and has provided weapons and other aid to Israel.
The escalating conflict in Gaza underscores the complexity of the situation and highlights the difficulty of finding a lasting peace in the region. It also highlights the dire need for the international community to be more involved in working towards a solution, as the current UN-led efforts seem to be failing. Until a diplomatic solution can be found, it is unlikely that the conflict in Gaza will be resolved anytime soon.