Dozens of people have reportedly been killed in Israeli air strikes on two schools in Gaza, sparking outrage and condemnation from Palestinian rescuers and news outlets.
According to reports, some of those killed were displaced people seeking shelter at the schools when they were hit by the strikes. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the attack, stating that they had targeted Hamas “command and control centers” within the schools in Gaza City.
This is the third time in a week that schools in Gaza have been hit by Israeli strikes, raising concerns about the safety of civilians in the region. The IDF justified the strikes, claiming that the schools were being used by Hamas as hiding places for terrorist operatives and as command centers for planning attacks against Israeli troops.
Footage circulating on social media showed bodies inside one of the schools as rescuers worked to evacuate casualties, including children. Palestinian media reported that at least 30 people were killed in the strikes, with most of the victims being women and children. Rescue efforts are ongoing as more people are believed to be buried under the rubble.
The attack on the schools comes on the heels of an assault on a camp for displaced people in a hospital in central Gaza, which reportedly claimed the lives of at least five individuals. Previous strikes on schools in Gaza have also resulted in significant casualties, further escalating tensions in the region.
While the IDF claims to take precautions to minimize civilian casualties during strikes, the Palestinian Civil Defence described the attacks on Sunday as “a massacre.” The violence in Gaza has been ongoing since the start of the Israel-Gaza war on 7 October, with both sides suffering heavy losses.
In a separate incident on Sunday morning, two people were killed in a stabbing attack in the Israeli city of Holon. The Palestinian attacker was later shot dead by police, adding to the cycle of violence and bloodshed in the region.
