Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, an Israeli airstrike on the Al-Jawni school in Gaza’s Nuseirat district killed 16 people and injured 50 others. The Palestinian health ministry confirmed the casualties, noting that the school was being used as a shelter by displaced individuals.
Following the strike, the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital. The Palestinian health ministry described the incident as an “odious massacre.” The Hamas-run government’s press office reported that 7,000 people were sheltering at the school when it was hit.
Paramedics at the scene confirmed that a journalist was among the dead. Additionally, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) reported that two of its workers were killed in a strike at Al-Bureij in central Gaza, where the agency has a large food warehouse.
Rising Concerns Over Safety in Gaza
The attack has heightened concerns about the escalating crisis in Gaza. “Absolutely no place in the Gaza Strip is safe,” said civil defense spokesperson Mahmud Bassal. The conflict, which began with Hamas’ October 7 attack on southern Israel, has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths.
The militants also seized hostages, with 116 still held in Gaza, including 42 that the Israeli military claims are deceased.
Israeli Military Statement
On the day of the strikes, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) stated that it targeted several “terrorists operating in structures located in the area of Al-Jawni School.” The Israeli military wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Based on IDF and ISA intelligence, the IAF struck several terrorists operating in structures located in the area of @UNRWA’s Al-Jaouni School in central Gaza.”
The statement added, “This location served as both a hideout and operational infrastructure from which attacks against IDF troops operating in Gaza were directed and carried out. Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise aerial surveillance and additional intelligence.”
Eyewitness Accounts
Eyewitnesses told the BBC that the attack targeted the upper floors of the school, which is located near a busy market. “This is the fourth time they have targeted the school without warning,” a woman told AFP.
The timing of the strikes has raised additional concerns, as they occurred while both Israel and Hamas are negotiating a ceasefire deal.