Following an Israeli airstrike on a U.N. school in Gaza that killed at least 18 people, including six U.N. staffers, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the need for Israel to protect humanitarian sites. The Israeli military justified the strike by claiming it targeted Hamas terrorists using the school as a base for operations. This attack has drawn international condemnation, with the U.N. and EU calling the deaths of humanitarian workers 'totally unacceptable.' Blinken acknowledged Hamas's role in the violence but insisted on the urgent need for a ceasefire to ensure the safety of civilians and humanitarian workers. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 41,000 Palestinian deaths since the war began, according to Hamas-run health authorities, and has prompted Turkey to investigate the death of a Turkish-American activist killed by Israeli forces. The situation remains dire as humanitarian efforts struggle amid escalating violence.