Israeli Airstrike on Gaza School Shelter Kills 17, Injures Dozens
An Israeli airstrike on Thursday hit a school in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing at least 17 people, including nine children, and injuring over 50, according to reports from Al-Awda hospital.
The school, Al-Shuhada, was being used as a shelter for displaced people, most of whom were women and children, according to the Hamas-run government media office.
Videos from the scene, verified by the BBC, show injured children being carried out by rescuers. The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas command center at the site, accusing Hamas of using the school to plan and execute attacks against Israeli troops.
Casualties Amidst Growing Conflict
In recent weeks, Israeli airstrikes have hit several buildings across Gaza, including those used as shelters, as part of its ongoing military offensive. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that it was operating against Hamas fighters and terrorist infrastructure. However, humanitarian conditions in Gaza are deteriorating rapidly, with civilians facing severe shortages of food and medical supplies.
At least 650 people have been killed in northern Gaza since the IDF began a new offensive targeting Hamas fighters who have regrouped in the area, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has criticized the limited access to aid in Gaza, reporting that only four of 70 coordinated aid missions were allowed by Israeli authorities in October. Despite these challenges, the IDF said it was facilitating the evacuation of civilians, while the international community, including the US, has urged Israel to expedite the flow of humanitarian aid.
Ongoing bombardments have also disrupted vital health initiatives. The final phase of an emergency polio vaccination campaign for 120,000 children in northern Gaza was postponed due to intense airstrikes and widespread displacement.
