Israeli military strike kills 27 at school sheltering displaced Palestinians

On April 3, 2025, the Israeli military conducted an airstrike on a school in northern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 Palestinians, including 14 children and five women, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The attack targeted the Dar al-Arqam school located in the Tuffah area of Gaza City, which was being used as a shelter for individuals displaced by ongoing conflict. This incident occurred amidst escalating violence, marking another day of high casualties in the besieged territory. In addition to the fatalities, the strike injured around 70 people, many of whom sustained critical injuries and were receiving treatment at local hospitals already overwhelmed due to the war on Gaza. Medical officials voiced concerns that the death toll could rise as patients with severe wounds continued to be treated. Reports noted a continuing conflict in Gaza, with the death toll thought to exceed 50,000 Palestinians, including many civilians. The humanitarian crisis intensified following a blockade imposed by Israel after a ceasefire ended the previous month. As a result, essential resources like food and medical supplies became critically scarce, exacerbating the plight of civilians enduring relentless bombardment and displacements. Human rights groups condemned this blockade as a tactic amounting to a war crime, further highlighting the dire circumstances faced by the affected population. Reactions to the airstrike included denunciations from Hamas, labeling the school attack a "heinous massacre" and part of a broader pattern of violence against civilians. Israeli military officials defended the strike, claiming it targeted a facility used as a "Hamas command and control centre." Tensions escalated with calls for accountability on both sides, while the international community expressed increasing alarm over the humanitarian situation.