Israeli military forces have killed dozens of Palestinians, including women and children, in an attack on a school being used as a shelter in central Gaza, according to hospital officials. The strike marks one of the deadliest single incidents in recent weeks of the ongoing conflict.
Details of the School Strike
The attack targeted the al-Salam School in the Nuseirat refugee camp on Friday. The school was operated by the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and was housing hundreds of displaced people who had fled fighting in other areas of the territory.
Hospital chiefs and medical staff at the nearby Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reported receiving a significant number of casualties. The director of the hospital, Dr Iyad Issa Abu Zaher, stated that at least 35 people were killed and dozens more wounded, with many in critical condition. The death toll is feared to rise as rescue workers continue to search the rubble.
The Israeli military confirmed it had carried out an operation in the Nuseirat area, stating it targeted "terrorist infrastructure" and fighters from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad that it claimed were operating from within the school. It did not immediately comment on the reported civilian casualties.
Wider Context and Escalating Violence
This incident occurs amidst a significant escalation of military operations across Gaza. Israeli troops have been engaged in intense fighting in the Shujayea neighbourhood of Gaza City and the southern city of Rafah. The military has issued new evacuation orders for areas in Gaza City, warning residents to leave as operations expand.
The conflict, now in its ninth month, has devastated the Gaza Strip. According to Palestinian health authorities, the overall death toll has exceeded 38,000 people. The vast majority of Gaza's 2.3 million population has been displaced, with many seeking refuge in UN-run facilities like the al-Salam School, which have repeatedly come under fire.
International Reaction and Humanitarian Crisis
The attack has drawn immediate condemnation from Palestinian officials and international aid organisations. UNRWA has repeatedly stated that the coordinates of its shelters are shared with all parties to the conflict, and that attacks on such protected sites are a clear violation of international law.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic. Hospitals, already crippled by a lack of supplies, fuel, and staff due to the war and Israeli blockade, are struggling to cope with the influx of new casualties. Dr. Abu Zaher warned that Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital is operating beyond capacity and faces severe shortages of essential medical equipment and blood.
Ceasefire negotiations, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, have stalled repeatedly. The latest proposals have failed to bridge the gap between Israel's aim to dismantle Hamas and the Palestinian demand for a permanent end to the fighting and full Israeli withdrawal.
