In a devastating incident, at least 28 people lost their lives and over 50 were injured when an Israeli air strike hit a school in central Gaza. The Rufaida al-Aslamia school in Deir al-Balah, which was being used as a shelter for displaced families, was targeted in the attack.
The Palestinian Red Crescent, operating near the school, reported the casualties. Eyewitness accounts describe a chaotic scene with people rushing to aid the injured amidst clouds of smoke and dust. Many children were among those treated at the nearby al-Aqsa hospital.
The Israeli military claimed the strike was "precise" and aimed at Hamas fighters operating a "command-and-control centre" within the school premises. They stated that measures were taken to minimize civilian harm but accused Hamas of misusing civilian infrastructure - an allegation Hamas has consistently denied.
Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry corroborated the death toll and condemned what it termed a "new massacre" by Israeli forces.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of an ongoing conflict that began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. In response, Israel initiated a military campaign to dismantle Hamas.
The Gaza health ministry reports that over 42,060 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the conflict. Many of Gaza's 1.9 million displaced residents have sought refuge in schools and similar facilities.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has strongly criticized Israel's actions, describing them as "ongoing and repeated crimes of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and forced displacement." They accuse Israel of deliberately targeting civilians and aiming to isolate northern Gaza from the rest of the territory.
As the conflict continues, concerns grow about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing hostilities.