Israeli Airstrike on Gaza School Claims Lives of 30, Injures Over 100
- Israeli airstrikes target a school in Gaza, killing over 30 people.
- The school was being used by displaced Palestinians and included children among the victims.
- The airstrike occurred as ceasefire talks were being planned.
In a devastating airstrike on Saturday, Israeli forces targeted the Khadija School in central Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 people, including 15 children, and injuring over 100 others. The school, located near Deir al-Balah, was serving as a shelter for approximately 4,000 displaced Palestinians amid ongoing violence. Eyewitness accounts described chaotic scenes as families rushed to rescue the injured from the rubble, with reports of a toddler among the deceased. Medical facilities, already overwhelmed, struggled to accommodate the influx of casualties. The Israeli military claimed the strike was aimed at a Hamas command center allegedly located within the school compound. This incident is part of a broader pattern of violence, as Israeli airstrikes across Gaza have intensified, with at least 23 additional Palestinians reported killed on the same day. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has noted that many schools in Gaza have been repurposed as shelters due to widespread destruction of homes, making them vulnerable to attacks. As international mediators prepare to discuss a potential ceasefire, the situation in Gaza remains dire. The ongoing conflict, which began with a Hamas assault on Israel in October, has resulted in over 39,200 Palestinian deaths, according to health officials. Humanitarian organizations have criticized Israel for its military tactics, asserting that they disproportionately affect civilians and fail to provide safe havens. The airstrike has drawn widespread condemnation, highlighting the urgent need for a resolution to the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in the region.