A UN agency reports that three schools where it has been sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza have been attacked in the past two days, killing more than 20 people.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Friday that the agency helping Palestinian refugees in Gaza, UNRWA, stresses that “schools are not a target and cannot be used for any military purposes by anyone.”

Mr Dujarric says the UN children’s agency, UNICEF, and its humanitarian partners reported this week that at least 87% of school buildings in Gaza have been directly hit or damaged since Israel launched its offensive following Hamas’ attacks in southern Israel last October 7.

He said one third of the buildings were UNRWA schools.

It comes after Israeli strikes on a hospital in Lebanon reportedly injured nursing staff in the building.