The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza City has escalated once again, with at least 12 Palestinians killed in an Israeli air strike on a school housing displaced people. The Hamas-run Civil Defence authority reported that rescuers are struggling to recover missing individuals believed to be trapped under the rubble at the Mustafa Hafez school in the western Rimal neighborhood.
The Israeli military stated that they targeted a Hamas command and control center inside the school, emphasizing that they took precautions to minimize civilian casualties. This comes after the recovery of six Israeli hostages who were held by Hamas-led gunmen in the Khan Younis area.
The aftermath of the strike was captured in a video posted on social media, showing women and children screaming and running from the dust-covered school. Witness Umm Mohammed described the devastation, saying, “The people are gone, they’re dead. They are under the rubble.”
Civil Defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal confirmed that 12 bodies have been recovered so far, with an estimated 700 displaced people living in the targeted wing of the school. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) defended their actions, stating that they conducted a precise strike on terrorists operating within the school.
However, the UN Human Rights Office has condemned the increasing frequency of Israeli strikes on schools sheltering displaced people, citing a disregard for civilian lives. This latest incident adds to the already high death toll in Gaza, with over 40,170 people killed during the ongoing conflict.
As the violence continues to escalate, the international community is calling for an end to the bloodshed and a renewed effort to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Gaza City.
