A deadly Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced people near Khan Yunis in southern Gaza resulted in at least 29 fatalities and numerous injuries, according to Gaza health officials. This attack marks the fourth strike on or near a school in Gaza over the past four days.
The latest attack targeted the al-Awda school in Abasan, resulting in scenes of chaos and devastation. Witnesses reported that people had gathered outside the school, some watching a soccer match, when the strike occurred.
The Israeli military acknowledged conducting strikes on three other schools in Gaza since Saturday, claiming that Hamas militants were using these facilities as hideouts. On Saturday, an Israeli strike hit the UN-run Al-Jawni school in Nuseirat, killing 16 people and injuring dozens more. Subsequent strikes on the Holy Family school in Gaza City and another UNRWA-run school in Nuseirat resulted in additional casualties.
Hamas has condemned the attacks, accusing Israel of committing a “terrible massacre” and stating that the majority of the victims were women and children. Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) have defended their actions, asserting that the strikes targeted militants using the schools for cover. The IDF also noted that measures were taken to minimize civilian harm, including precise aerial surveillance and intelligence efforts.
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