Israeli Strike on Gaza School Leaves 15 Dead and Dozens Injured, Witnesses Say
Witnesses have reported a deadly Israeli strike on a school in Gaza City that was serving as a shelter for thousands of evacuees. The strike hit al-Fakhoura school in the Jabalia area, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people and leaving dozens more wounded. Mohammad Abu Selmeyah, an official in the health ministry of the Hamas-run enclave, confirmed the casualties. Disturbing images from the scene depicted broken furniture, bloodstains, and traumatized individuals.
One witness, a young boy, emotionally recounted the horrific ordeal he witnessed, stating, I carried a body and another decapitated body with my own hands. Another resident expressed anger and disbelief, asking, Since when has it become normal to strike shelters? This is so unfair.
The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) confirmed that the school, which it operates, was indeed hit. Juliette Touma, director of communication for UNRWA, acknowledged that there were children among the casualties but could not provide an exact death toll at that time. She explained that the strikes hit areas where displaced families had set up tents and where women were baking bread.
In addition to the school incident, the Gaza ministry of health reported that another Israeli missile strike killed two women at the entrance of the Nasser Children Hospital, injuring several others. The Israeli military has not yet commented on either of these incidents.
These attacks come as Israel’s ground forces tightened their grip on Gaza City following an escalated bombing campaign aimed at eradicating Hamas. The assault was launched in response to a previous attack by Hamas on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,400 people and the taking of over 240 hostages.
According to Gaza health officials, the current Israeli assault has claimed the lives of more than 9,488 Palestinians. In an attempt to save civilian lives, Israel ordered residents of the northern part of the Gaza Strip, including Gaza City, to relocate to the south. However, many people have chosen to remain in the north, feeling trapped by the ongoing bombings.
Efforts to achieve a ceasefire have intensified, with US Special Envoy David Satterfield estimating that between 800,000 and a million people have already fled to the south of Gaza. Blinken, the US Secretary of State, emphasized the need for humanitarian pauses and a resolution to the issue of prisoners during his discussions with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Amman.
As concerns mount over the worsening situation in Gaza, it is crucial to recognize the dire living conditions that residents have been enduring even before this latest wave of violence. The scarcity of food, lack of clean water, and collapsing medical services have only exacerbated the suffering of the people. The hope for a peaceful resolution remains distant as hostilities between Israel and Hamas persist.
