Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza School Shelter Leave 17 Dead as Ceasefire Talks Face Stalemate

 

In central Gaza, an Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced families in the Nuseirat refugee camp has killed at least 17 people, mainly women and children, according to Gaza medical officials. This latest attack, part of ongoing strikes on civilian shelters, also left 42 people injured, including 13 children and three women. Al-Awda hospital in Gaza has been overwhelmed by the influx of casualties.

Gaza’s civil defense spokesperson, Mahmoud Bassal, confirmed that rescue teams were still searching the rubble for survivors. The Israeli military claimed the school served as a Hamas command center, which prompted the strike.

Israeli forces are intensifying their operations in northern Gaza, a campaign that has reportedly resulted in 770 deaths since early October. Thousands of Gaza residents have evacuated southward in search of safety, but rescue operations in the north have halted due to threats from the Israeli military, as reported by civil defense officials. In the Jabaliya refugee camp, tank fire has destroyed the last working fire truck, with rescue workers reporting injuries and arrests among their teams.

The conflict has escalated concerns over press safety in the region. Al Jazeera, a major Qatari media outlet, accused Israeli forces of targeting its journalists, after Israeli military claims linked six Al Jazeera reporters to Hamas or Islamic Jihad. Al Jazeera condemned the accusations as "criminal and irresponsible," highlighting that several of its journalists have been killed by Israeli fire since the conflict began. The Committee to Protect Journalists criticized the allegations, warning against the risks of falsely labeling journalists as terrorists.

International efforts to mediate peace have struggled, as recent meetings in Doha between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Qatari officials failed to yield a truce or hostage release agreement. Israeli Prime Minister's office announced that Mossad Chief Ronen Bar will continue negotiations in Doha. Meanwhile, Hamas, currently without a successor for recently killed leader Yahya Sinwar, is engaging with officials from Qatar, Turkey, Russia, and the United Nations in diplomatic discussions.

Amid these efforts, Blinken pledged $135 million in U.S. humanitarian aid for Palestinians, urging Israel to allow aid flow into Gaza. Separately, France hosted a conference to coordinate international assistance for Lebanon, though ceasefire efforts with Hezbollah remain stalled.