On Tuesday, a severe strike by Israeli forces struck a school used as a shelter in southern Gaza. According to the Gaza Government Media Office, 29 Palestinians who were seeking shelter in tents outside a school in Abasan town near Khan Younis in southern Gaza were killed by an Israeli air strike.
This is the fourth instance in four days that Israeli forces have targeted a school being used as a shelter in Gaza. The strike occurred following new evacuation orders issued by Israel for areas in Khan Younis and Gaza City, prompting tens of thousands to flee and leading to the closure of three major hospitals.
The strike struck the Al-Awda school in Abasan, as reported by local sources. It is reported that along with at least 29 people killed, many others were injured as well.
As the war enters the 9th month since it started, families are displaced forcefully from their homes, facing constant fear as they witness their surroundings crumble into pieces.
Israel continues to accuse Hamas of using schools and health clinics to store weapons and as their control centers.
Negotiations for a ceasefire are set to continue on Wednesday in Qatar and are expected to resume on Thursday in Egypt.
Strikes on the sites of shelters? Civilians suffer the most
UNRWA (United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees) has been active in providing shelter to the people in the war-torn area. The agency reports that they lack essential supplies to sustain the people seeking refuge at their sites. Furthermore, the unbearable heat and diseases spreading like wildfires in the overcrowded shelters add to the already existing quagmire of challenges.
Save the Children, an International Humanitarian Organization working for the welfare of children around the globe, says that in 9 months, around 50,000 babies have been born in war-torn Gaza. The conditions that they are born in are traumatic and unsanitary, raising more concern about their chances of surviving in such a difficult environment.
During the period of this war, Israeli defense forces were accused of bombing and shelling humanitarian aid posts and refugee shelters apart from targeting civilians. This act of targeting such shelters proves counterproductive to the measures of those who provide these services.
The news of the newly reopened health center at Khan Younis after it was severely damaged in an attack six months ago comes as relief among the refugees seeking the service.
Fourth strike on school in the last four days
The Al Awda attack was the fourth attack since the attack on Saturday. Reportedly, at least 20 people were killed in the previous attacks.
On Saturday, Al Jaouni school in Nuseirat camp was hit. The day after, Gaza City’s Holy Family School was targeted, followed by an attack on a UNRWA-run school in Nuseirat the subsequent day.
Israel claims that these schools were used by Hamas for military purposes.
Israel under international criticism
Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai expressed her concerns about a previous attack of the same kind in Al-Jaouni school through a post on the social media platform X. She reiterated the urgent need for a ceasefire in the area. She also noted that we must not become numb to human rights violations of this kind taking innocent lives.
The UN Human Rights Office expressed deep shock as civilians, many of whom have been displaced multiple times, attempt to relocate to areas where military operations are active, resulting in ongoing casualties among civilians.
