Tragic Airstrike on Gaza School Claims Lives
An Israeli airstrike targeted a school in Gaza City, which was serving as a makeshift shelter, resulting in the deaths of at least 25 individuals and leaving dozens more injured. This incident, reported by the Palestinian emergency response agency and various Palestinian news outlets, marks the third attack on educational institutions within a span of just four days.
According to Mahmoud Basal, a spokesman for the Palestinian Civil Defense, most of the casualties were women and children. The school, identified as Hassan Salame, was struck by an F-16 fighter jet, and Basal indicated that at least 14 individuals remained trapped under the rubble following the attack. The explosion also scattered shrapnel and debris onto a nearby school known as Nasser.
It remains uncertain if any of the deceased were militants. In response to the incident, the Israeli military stated that its operation targeted “terrorists” located within “Hamas command and control centers” situated in both the Hassan Salame and Nasser schools. They asserted that they had implemented “numerous steps to mitigate the risk of harming civilians” prior to the strike, including the use of precision munitions, surveillance, and intelligence. However, specific details regarding these measures were not disclosed.
The impact on civilians has been devastating. “Right in front of me, there was a 5-year-old child dying. How is that related to October 7?” lamented Mr. Basal. “If you want to kill someone, kill him away from other people.”
Sunday’s tragic event mirrored previous strikes, including an attack on Hamama School the day before, which resulted in 17 fatalities, and another on Dalal al-Mughrabi School on Thursday, claiming 15 lives, according to Basal. All four educational facilities had been converted into shelters for Gazans displaced by the ongoing conflict, with classrooms and hallways now serving as overcrowded temporary refuges.
Following each airstrike, distressing videos circulated on social media, depicting scenes of devastation: buildings engulfed in flames, people fleeing in terror, and others lying motionless amidst the chaos.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Israeli military reiterated its position that Hamas has embedded itself among civilians in a bid to use them as human shields. This defense has become a common refrain for Israel as it faces growing international condemnation due to the significant civilian casualties resulting from the conflict. Nonetheless, experts in international law maintain that Israel holds a responsibility to protect civilians, even in circumstances where Hamas is alleged to exploit their presence.
Since the onset of the conflict on October 7, following a violent assault by Hamas on Israel, most schools in Gaza have been repurposed as shelters for thousands of displaced individuals. The Israeli military has consistently targeted school buildings or struck areas surrounding them, often claiming that Hamas utilizes these facilities for military purposes, a claim that the group has denied.
A recent assessment conducted by the United Nations revealed that approximately 85 percent of Gaza’s schools have suffered destruction or damage amid the ongoing war, with over half of those buildings used as shelters having been directly hit.
Contributions to this report were made by Isabel Kershner from Jerusalem and Ameera Harouda from Doha.
