A deadly airstrike on a school sheltering displaced Palestinian families in central Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 16 people, with over 50 others injured, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The strike, which occurred on Saturday in Al-Nuseirat, has intensified the ongoing conflict, raising concerns about the safety of civilians in the region.
The Israeli military stated that the airstrike targeted militants who were using the area to plan and carry out attacks against Israeli soldiers. Despite taking precautions to minimize the risk to civilians, the attack has resulted in significant civilian casualties. Hamas, the militant group governing Gaza, denied that its fighters were present in the targeted area.
Witness Accounts of the Aftermath
Ayman al-Atouneh, a witness at the scene, described the horrifying sight of children among the dead. “We came here running to see the targeted area. We saw bodies of children, in pieces. This is a playground. There was a trampoline here, there were swing sets, and vendors,” he recounted, highlighting the tragic irony of the attack’s location.
Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Gaza Civil Emergency Service, expressed concern over the rising death toll, noting that many of the wounded were in critical condition. Basal emphasized the grim reality faced by families in Gaza, stating that no place seemed safe for those seeking shelter.
Intensified Bombardment in Al-Nuseirat
Al-Nuseirat, one of Gaza Strip’s eight historic refugee camps, witnessed an escalation in Israeli bombardment on Saturday. An earlier airstrike on a house within the camp resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people and left many others wounded, according to medical sources.
The Gaza health ministry reported that Israeli military strikes across the enclave had killed at least 29 Palestinians and wounded 100 others in the past 24 hours. Among those killed were five local journalists, bringing the total number of journalists killed since October 7 to 158, as reported by the Hamas-led Gaza government media office.
Health authorities in Gaza claim that more than 38,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s ongoing offensive, a figure that includes both combatants and non-combatants. Israeli sources assert that at least a third of the Palestinian casualties are fighters, while Israel has lost 323 soldiers in the conflict.
Source- Reuters
Origins of the Conflict
The current offensive by Israel aims to dismantle the militant Islamist group Hamas, following a devastating Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of over 250 others. This brutal attack prompted Israel to launch its military operations in Gaza.
Operations in Rafah
Israeli forces have deepened their incursions into Rafah, a southern area of Gaza near the border with Egypt. On Saturday, an airstrike targeted a vehicle, killing four Palestinian policemen and wounding eight others. Among the dead was Fares Abdel-Al, the head of the police force in the Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah.
The Israeli military reported that its operations in Rafah aimed to destroy underground structures, seize weapons, and eliminate several Palestinian gunmen. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to eradicate the remaining Hamas armed wing battalions in the region.
Targeted Strikes and Ongoing Conflict
In Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza, the Israeli military claimed to have eliminated a Hamas rocket cell operating within a humanitarian-designated area. The military emphasized that the strike was carried out with precision to avoid harming civilians.
Meanwhile, armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad reported attacks on Israeli forces in several areas of Gaza, utilizing anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs.
The Human Cost
The tragic events in Gaza highlight the immense human cost of the ongoing conflict. The loss of civilian lives, including children, underscores the urgent need for a resolution that ensures the safety and security of all individuals in the region. As the violence continues, the international community remains deeply concerned about the escalating humanitarian crisis and the urgent need for peace.
