An Israeli airstrike on a school in Deir al-Balah, a city in central Gaza, has resulted in the deaths of at least 30 Palestinians and injuries to more than 100 others, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry. The attack, which occurred early Saturday morning, has sparked a heated debate over its justification and impact on civilians.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that the Khadija School, which was struck, housed a Hamas command and control center. The IDF asserted that the site was used by Hamas for planning attacks and storing weapons. However, Gaza's health ministry contends that the victims were mostly civilians, including children, and that the school was serving as a shelter for displaced individuals at the time of the strike.
Witnesses described a harrowing scene, with footage showing a chaotic aftermath: injured children and adults being carried from the rubble, and a somber scene of devastation. Mustafa Rafati, a witness, recounted feeling the shockwave of the explosion and described a “terrifying scene” inside the school.
The IDF stated that it took measures to minimize civilian casualties, including the use of targeted munitions and extensive surveillance. However, Gaza’s health ministry reported that the recent bombings in Deir al-Balah and the nearby city of Khan Younis have resulted in at least 53 deaths and 189 injuries since early Saturday.
The attack on the school comes amid a broader Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in over 39,000 Palestinian deaths since the conflict began following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7. The conflict has claimed approximately 1,200 Israeli lives and taken 251 people hostage.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell criticized the strike on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing the ongoing humanitarian crisis and calling for an immediate ceasefire. Ceasefire negotiations, led by CIA Director Bill Burns, are set to start on Sunday with representatives from Qatar, Egypt, and Israel.
In addition to the Gaza strikes, Israeli military actions in the West Bank on Saturday resulted in the deaths of two Palestinians and injuries to 22 others in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, according to the Palestinian Authority's health ministry.
The IDF's latest operations involve evacuations in Khan Younis and reduced humanitarian zones due to reported rocket fire and Hamas infrastructure in these areas. The situation remains fluid as international efforts to broker a ceasefire continue.
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