GAZA CITY: An Israeli air strike on Sunday targeted a school in Gaza City that was sheltering displaced Palestinians, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 persons, including a woman and a child, according to local health officials. The strike hit the Safad school, which had been repurposed as a shelter, the Gaza Civil Defence Agency said.
Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for the civil defence agency, said that the attack also left several people injured. “Eleven people, including a woman and girl, were killed when an Israeli air strike struck the Safad school in Gaza City sheltering displaced people,” the spokesman said. The school, like many others in the Gaza Strip, had become a refuge for Palestinian families fleeing the ongoing Israeli violence and destruction in the region.
The incident is part of a broader and intensifying military campaign by Israel, which began on October 7. The Israeli military’s operations have involved extensive air, sea, and ground assaults on the Gaza Strip. The Gaza health ministry has reported that these strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 40,738 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
The air strike on the Safad school further exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where civilian infrastructure has been heavily targeted amid the conflict. The international community has expressed growing concern over the humanitarian impact of the ongoing violence, with numerous calls for a ceasefire and measures to protect civilians.
The Israeli government has not yet commented on the specific attack on the Safad school. However, Israeli military operations in Gaza have been described as targeting Hamas and other militant groups, with the aim of dismantling their operational capabilities. The presence of a police outpost at the school, which is reportedly used for maintaining order within the shelter, has been cited as a factor in the military’s targeting decisions.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of hostages held in Gaza, following the discovery of six captives’ bodies in southern Gaza.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Guterres emphasized the urgent need to end the violence and secure the release of all hostages.
The conflict, now spanning 11 months, has resulted in significant casualties and widespread suffering. Gaza’s health ministry reported that 47 people died in the past 24 hours.
On Sunday, Israeli drones were observed hovering over Deir el-Balah, where a polio vaccination campaign is underway. Despite the area being designated for a humanitarian pause, the presence of drones has raised concerns among locals.
Many parents are bringing their children for vaccination, hoping to provide some protection amid the ongoing violence, although they remain vulnerable to bombardment.
Meanwhile, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has accused the Israeli government of undermining its efforts by purchasing Google ads to obstruct donations. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini condemned these actions as harmful to the agency’s reputation and potentially dangerous for its staff.
“These deliberate efforts to spread misinformation should stop and be investigated,” Lazzarini stated, urging more stringent regulations for social media platforms to combat disinformation and hate speech.
