A devastating Israeli airstrike has claimed the lives of dozens of Palestinians, including women and children, at a Gaza school in Khan Younis, local medical sources report. The al-Awda school, which was sheltering families displaced by ongoing conflict, was targeted at its entrance in the town of Abasan al-Kabira.
The airstrike on the al-Awda school marks the fourth such school attack in recent days, heightening concerns over the increasing targeting of educational and shelter facilities. Israeli forces have previously justified these strikes by alleging the presence of Hamas fighters and bases within the Gaza schools. However, most casualties have been reported as civilians, primarily children and women.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with frequent attacks on shelters and schools leading to rising civilian casualties. The Israeli military’s recent call for residents of Rafah to evacuate to Khan Younis has further crowded these shelters, increasing the vulnerability of those seeking refuge.
In addition to the tragedy in Khan Younis, multiple fires erupted in the occupied Golan Heights following an attack by Hezbollah. Israeli media reported that rockets launched by the Lebanese group ignited fires in at least eight locations within the Israeli-occupied Syrian territory.
Back in Gaza, the attack on the al-Awda school adds to a series of recent deadly strikes. On Saturday, an Israeli raid on the UN-run al-Jawni school in Nuseirat resulted in 16 deaths. Another attack on the Holy Family school in Gaza City on Sunday claimed four lives. On Monday, another UNRWA-run school in Nuseirat was hit, causing several injuries.
According to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, over 500 people have been killed in its shelters and schools since the conflict began on October 7. Gaza’s government media office reported that the latest strike on al-Awda school killed at least 29 Palestinians, predominantly women and children. This follows a series of six other attacks on displacement camps in central Gaza, raising the death toll to at least 60 within hours.
The healthcare sector in Gaza is nearing collapse, exacerbated by the suspension of services at several hospitals due to the ongoing Israeli offensive. The humanitarian crisis in the besieged coastal enclave continues to worsen, with the international community urging for immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid.
As the conflict intensifies, the call for protection of civilians and adherence to international humanitarian laws grows ever more urgent. The tragic loss of life and the destruction of vital civilian infrastructure underscore the need for a peaceful resolution to the enduring conflict.