Israeli airstrikes targeted a school being used by displaced people in central Gaza, resulting in the deaths of dozens of individuals. The Israeli military stated that the strike was aimed at a Hamas command and control center used to store weapons and plan attacks. In addition to the school strike, at least 11 people were killed in other attacks in Gaza on the same day. The Health Ministry reported that 30 people sheltering at the girls’ school in Deir Al-Balah were pronounced dead at Al Aqsa Hospital. The scenes at the hospital were chaotic, with injured individuals being rushed in ambulances and bodies being covered with blankets.
Israel’s military issued an evacuation order for a designated humanitarian zone in Gaza ahead of a planned strike on Khan Younis. This move was in response to rocket fire originating from the area, leading to the planned operation against Hamas militants in the city. The evacuation order is the second issued in a week, involving part of the 60-square-kilometer area that houses tent camps without adequate facilities. The planned strike occurred just before U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and Israel negotiators were set to meet in Italy to discuss the ongoing hostage and cease-fire negotiations.
Approximately 1.8 million Palestinians are now sheltering in the designated humanitarian zone after being displaced multiple times during Israel’s air and ground campaign. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, highlighted the forced displacement orders affecting those seeking refuge in the area. In another area, Palestinians mourned the deaths of seven individuals, including families, who were killed in Israeli airstrikes. The war in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 39,100 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry, with a significant number of children now unaccompanied.
The conflict began with a Hamas assault on southern Israel in October, resulting in 1,200 deaths, most of which were civilians. Hostilities have continued since then, with hostages still believed to be held in Gaza. The ongoing violence underscores the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with limited access to aid and inadequate living conditions for those displaced by the conflict. The international community, including mediators from the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, is working to broker a cease-fire and address the escalating violence in the region. The tragic events in Gaza highlight the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict to prevent further loss of life and suffering among the civilian population.
