At least 28 individuals, including children, have tragically lost their lives in a recent surge of Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip, as reported by Gaza’s civil defense agency. Among the targeted locations was a school that had been converted into a shelter for displaced families, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals, including four children, over the weekend.
This escalation comes as the United Nations has issued a call for Israel to halt its attacks near a hospital located in northern Gaza. The Israeli military has asserted that a Hamas command center was situated within the compound of the Musa bin Nusair school in Gaza City, although there has been no official comment regarding the strikes near the hospital.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) emphasized on social media that “Hamas systematically violates international law,” reiterating their commitment to responding with “force and determination against terrorist organizations.” Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defense agency confirmed that the school had been repurposed to accommodate Palestinians displaced by the ongoing conflict.
Eyewitness accounts describe a harrowing experience, with one displaced individual recounting how he was awakened by a powerful explosion. “We were sleeping peacefully, then suddenly we woke up to the sound of a very powerful explosion,” he shared. Another refugee mentioned how debris and shrapnel struck while he sought refuge in a tent.
Pope Francis has expressed his condemnation of the Israeli attacks in Gaza, lamenting the “cruelty” inflicted upon civilians, particularly children, and the bombing of schools and hospitals. In a troubling development, the director of the Kamal Adwan hospital reported damage to its generators, suggesting that Israeli forces were targeting essential fuel supplies.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has urgently called for the IDF to cease strikes near the hospital, stating that reports of bombardment in the vicinity are “deeply worrisome.” He has called for immediate action to protect patients and healthcare workers.
The hospital’s director also highlighted the precarious situation, warning that anyone who steps outside the facility risks being targeted and stressing that relocating hospital operations could endanger patients. He has pleaded for health staff to be allowed to continue their work without the imminent threat of evacuation.
As of now, Israel has not responded to the claims regarding evacuation orders. Meanwhile, Palestinian factions have signaled that a ceasefire agreement may be “closer than ever.”
The ongoing conflict has resulted in a staggering toll, with over 45,000 Palestinians reported dead amid the fierce 14-month war between Israel and Hamas. This violence erupted following an unprecedented attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostages taken.
