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28 Killed in Israeli Airstrike on Gaza School, Civilian Casualties Mount
Gaza City: An Israeli airstrike on Rafida School in Gaza’s Deir el-Balah area claimed the lives of 28 people, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent on Thursday.
The strike, which targeted a Hamas command center, also left 54 others injured. The incident has intensified concerns over the growing humanitarian crisis in the region.
The Israeli military confirmed that the airstrike was aimed at a command-and-control center operated by Hamas militants within the school compound. According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the center was being used to plan and carry out attacks against Israeli troops and civilians.
“Palestine Red Crescent teams responded to 28 fatalities and 54 injuries following the Israeli occupation army’s targeting of Rafida School,” the organization stated.
Escalating Civilian Deaths Amid Ongoing Conflict
The Gaza Health Ministry, under Hamas’ administration, corroborated the Red Crescent’s report on the casualties. The airstrike on Rafida School is part of a series of recent attacks on educational institutions that have been converted into shelters for displaced civilians.
On September 26, a similar airstrike on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza’s Jabalia camp resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people, as per reports from Gaza’s civil defense agency. The ongoing conflict has seen an increasing number of civilian casualties, with the health ministry estimating over 42,065 Palestinians killed since the conflict began. The majority of these fatalities have been civilians, according to local authorities.
Mounting International Concern Over Humanitarian Crisis
The international community has expressed growing concern over the escalating violence and the humanitarian impact on civilians. The airstrikes on civilian infrastructure, particularly schools and hospitals, have drawn criticism and calls for an immediate ceasefire.
The conflict, which erupted following the October 7 attack that killed 1,206 people on the Israeli side, has led to a large-scale military campaign by Israel. The IDF maintains that its operations are aimed at neutralizing Hamas militants who continue to use civilian facilities as operational bases.
With no end in sight, the region remains on edge, and the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, as efforts to broker a ceasefire remain unsuccessful.
