Gaza airstrike/ Israeli military/ Hamas/ Gaza school strike/ civilian casualties/ Israel-Hamas war/ Newslooks/ DEIR AL-BALAH/ Gaza Strip/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ An Israeli airstrike on a school in northern Gaza on Saturday killed at least 22 people, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel’s military said it targeted a Hamas command center embedded within the school. This marks another tragic escalation in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which has displaced the majority of Gaza’s population.
Israeli Strike Kills 22 in Gaza School Quick Looks:
- Israeli airstrike on a Gaza school killed at least 22, including women and children.
- Israel’s military said it targeted a Hamas command center embedded in the school.
- Over 30 were injured in the strike, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
- The conflict has displaced 90% of Gaza’s population and resulted in tens of thousands of deaths.
- The strike follows similar attacks on schools used by civilians, as Israel accuses Hamas of operating from civilian locations.
Gaza School Hit by Israeli Strike, 22 Dead as Conflict Intensifies
Deep Look:
An Israeli airstrike on Saturday targeted a school in Gaza’s Zeitoun area, killing at least 22 people, many of whom were women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The attack, which also left over 30 people wounded, is part of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which has seen widespread destruction and significant civilian casualties.
The Israeli army confirmed the strike, stating that the school had been repurposed by Hamas as a command center. Israeli military officials said they took steps to limit civilian casualties, using precise munitions and conducting aerial surveillance before the strike. “The Hamas terrorist organization systematically violates international law by operating from inside civilian infrastructure,” the Israeli army stated, a claim they have made throughout the conflict.
Schools as Targets in the Conflict
This is not the first time that a school in Gaza has been the target of an Israeli airstrike. In recent weeks, several schools, many filled with displaced civilians, have been struck by Israeli forces, who accuse Hamas of using these locations for military operations.
Earlier this month, an Israeli airstrike on a school in the Nuseirat refugee camp killed 14 people. The Israeli military maintained that the school was being used by Hamas militants to plan attacks. In a similar incident in July, airstrikes on a girls’ school in Deir al-Balah killed at least 30 people. The Israeli army said the school housed a Hamas command center and weapons storage.
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
The conflict, which began on October 7 when Hamas-led fighters killed over 1,200 Israelis and took approximately 250 hostages, has devastated Gaza. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli retaliatory strikes, though the ministry’s figures do not differentiate between fighters and civilians. The United Nations reports that 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced due to the fighting.
The use of civilian infrastructure, such as schools and hospitals, as military strongholds by Hamas has been a focal point of Israel’s defense for its aggressive military campaign. The Israeli army claims these actions violate international law and put innocent lives at risk. Nonetheless, the high civilian death toll has prompted widespread concern from international organizations about the humanitarian consequences of the ongoing conflict.
Tensions in Lebanon and Beyond
The strike on the Gaza school follows rising tensions across the region. On Friday, an Israeli airstrike on a Beirut suburb killed 31 people, including Ibrahim Akil, a senior Hezbollah commander, and Ahmed Wahbi, another key military leader in the group. This strike came after Hezbollah launched a heavy bombardment of northern Israel, intensifying fears of a broader regional conflict.
Israel’s Iron Dome system successfully intercepted most of the rockets fired from Lebanon, but the region remains on edge as Hezbollah vows retaliation. As the Israel-Hamas war continues, the possibility of further escalation involving Hezbollah and other militant groups remains high.
