Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza Force Thousands to Flee, Destroy Health Infrastructure Sanaa Alswerky Harsh humanitarian conditions at shelters in UNRWA schools threaten to increase spread of COVID-19 Amid the ongoing rocket attacks and air strikes between Israel and Gaza that started nine days ago, thousands of Palestinians living in the border areas of the coastal enclave have left their homes to escape intense Israeli artillery shelling. They are sheltering in United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) schools located in western Gaza. More than 52,000 Palestinians have been displaced by Israeli air strikes that have destroyed or badly damaged nearly 450 buildings in the Gaza Strip, the UN aid agency said on Tuesday.