Palestinian medical officials report that an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 21 individuals, with the death toll expected to rise. The strike took place in the central town of Deir al-Balah, with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital confirming the casualties. Several others were wounded in the attack, as ambulances rushed to the hospital carrying the bodies, many of which arrived dismembered.
The Israeli military has been targeting what it claims are militant positions throughout the Palestinian enclave, amidst escalating tensions with Iran and its conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Earlier in the week, Israel launched a significant air and ground offensive against Hamas in northern Gaza. Witnesses noted that the strike specifically aimed at a makeshift post of the Hamas-run police located within the shelter.
Schools turned into shelters have been recurrent targets for Israeli attacks in Gaza, with accusations of militants using these facilities as hiding spots. Hamas, on the other hand, continues to launch assaults on Israeli forces and sporadically fires rockets into Israel. The conflict traces back to over a year ago when Hamas-led militants initiated an attack that resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and the abduction of approximately 250 others. Tragically, around 100 individuals remain captives, with a third presumed dead.
According to local health authorities, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has claimed the lives of over 42,000 Palestinians. While the number of fighters among the casualties remains undisclosed, reports indicate that women and children account for more than half of the fatalities. The war has caused widespread destruction in Gaza, displacing about 90% of the 2.3 million population multiple times.
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