Israeli airstrike Gaza/ Gaza school shelter strike/ Gaza civilian casualties/ Palestinian aid/ Gaza humanitarian crisis/ Israel-Hamas war/ Newslooks/ DEIR AL-BALAH/ Gaza Strip/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ An Israeli airstrike on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp killed 17 people, mostly women and children, according to Palestinian officials. The Israeli military claimed the strike targeted a Hamas command center. Amid worsening conditions in northern Gaza, hospitals are running out of supplies, and rescue operations have been halted after Israeli forces reportedly fired on first responders.
Gaza School Strike Quick Looks:
- Airstrike on shelter: Israeli strike on a Gaza school-turned-shelter killed 17, mostly women and children.
- Israeli military response: Israel claims Hamas militants were using the school as a command center.
- Medical crisis: Hospitals in northern Gaza are overwhelmed, with critical shortages of supplies and staff.
- First responders halt: Rescue operations in northern Gaza have stopped after an Israeli strike on a first responder team.
- Humanitarian aid: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $135 million in aid for Palestinians.
Israeli Strike on Gaza School Shelter Kills 17, Officials Say
Deep Look:
Israeli Strike on Gaza School Shelter Kills 17, Amid Escalating Conflict
An Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp killed at least 17 people, most of them women and children, Palestinian officials reported on Thursday. The attack marks one of many recent airstrikes in Gaza as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to devastate the region.
Strike on Nuseirat Refugee Camp
The Awda Hospital in Gaza confirmed that 42 more individuals were wounded in the attack, many of them seriously. Hospital records show that 13 of the victims were children under 18, while three women also lost their lives. The Israeli military acknowledged the airstrike, stating that it had targeted a Hamas command center housed within the school, though no evidence was immediately provided to support this claim.
This incident is the latest in a series of airstrikes targeting civilian structures, including schools and hospitals, which have been repurposed as shelters for those displaced by the conflict. Israeli forces maintain that they are focusing on Hamas militants hiding within civilian areas, though such strikes have frequently led to high civilian casualties.
Health System on the Brink
In northern Gaza, the situation has become even more dire. Dr. Hossam Abu Safiyeh, director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital, warned of a “catastrophic” collapse of medical services due to severe shortages of supplies and overwhelmed medical staff. He reported that around 150 wounded individuals, including 14 children, are currently being treated at the hospital. “We lose at least one person every hour due to the lack of medical supplies and staff,” Dr. Safiyeh said.
A lack of fuel and functioning ambulances has compounded the crisis, making it nearly impossible for patients to be transported to hospitals. Footage released by medical teams shows hospital staff tending to premature babies and burn victims, with many young patients suffering from life-threatening injuries. The situation has led to desperate conditions in hospitals across Gaza, where only 16 out of 39 hospitals remain operational, according to the World Health Organization.
First Responders Under Fire
The escalating violence has also hindered rescue operations. First responders from Gaza’s Civil Defense, operating under the Hamas-run government, announced they had ceased operations in northern Gaza after Israeli forces allegedly fired on one of their teams in Beit Lahiya. The team had been instructed to relocate to the Indonesian Hospital, where Israeli troops are stationed, before being targeted. Three team members were wounded, and a firetruck was destroyed in the strike.
Five additional Civil Defense personnel were reportedly detained by Israeli forces at the hospital. As a result of the incident, the organization announced that all emergency services, including firefighting and rescue operations, in northern Gaza would be suspended. This leaves much of the region without critical rescue or medical services, exacerbating the already desperate humanitarian situation.
U.S. Pledges Additional Aid
In a separate development, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, currently on his 11th visit to the Middle East since the conflict began, announced an additional $135 million in aid to Palestinians. Speaking from Qatar, Blinken emphasized the importance of humanitarian assistance and urged Israel to allow greater access for aid into Gaza.
The U.S. government has been actively involved in mediating the conflict, pressing for a ceasefire and renewed negotiations. However, efforts to broker peace have been hampered by the recent death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces. Despite U.S. hopes for a diplomatic solution, both sides continue to show little willingness to compromise on their demands.
Ceaseless Conflict
The conflict in Gaza has now entered a protracted phase, with no sign of de-escalation. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, breaching security barriers and killing over 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians. The attack also resulted in the abduction of around 250 hostages, with approximately 100 still believed to be held in Gaza. A third of the hostages are presumed dead.
In retaliation, Israel launched a full-scale military operation in Gaza, resulting in massive destruction across the territory. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, with women and children comprising more than half of the fatalities. The Israeli military asserts that it has eliminated more than 17,000 Hamas fighters, though it has not provided concrete evidence to support these claims.
Widespread Displacement and Destruction
The ongoing violence has displaced 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, with hundreds of thousands of civilians crammed into temporary shelters along Gaza’s coastline. Many of these areas lack access to basic necessities, and entire neighborhoods in northern and central Gaza have been reduced to rubble.
Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, led by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, have stalled after months of discussions. The war has also expanded to neighboring Lebanon, where Israel launched a ground invasion more than three weeks ago in response to attacks by Hezbollah. Both sides have been engaged in cross-border exchanges of fire throughout the past year, escalating the conflict in the region.
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