On Thursday, more than a dozen people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on two schools in Gaza City, according to Palestinian officials. These schools were being used as shelters by people displaced by the ongoing conflict. The strikes, which targeted the Abdul Fattah Hamoud and al-Zahraa schools, left at least 16 people dead and 37 others injured. The schools are located close to each other in Gaza City’s eastern neighborhoods.
The Israeli military explained that these schools were being used by Hamas militants as command centers for planning and executing attacks. Israel has accused Hamas of using such locations, including schools, to carry out their operations. However, this has led to severe consequences for civilians, especially those seeking refuge in these educational centers.
Many Palestinians have sought shelter in schools across the Gaza Strip, hoping they might offer some safety amid the conflict. But recently, schools have become frequent targets. According to the U.N. Human Rights Office, Israel has struck seven schools in the eight days leading up to Thursday’s attacks. The United Nations reported that at least 163 Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed in airstrikes on 17 schools over the past month.
Human rights groups argue that Israel is not doing enough to protect civilians in Gaza, where the months-long conflict has resulted in nearly 40,000 deaths. The Gaza Health Ministry, which does not separate civilian casualties from combatants, claims most of the dead are women and children.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that they took multiple steps to minimize civilian casualties during the strikes on the two schools. These measures included using precise weapons, conducting surveillance, and gathering additional intelligence. Despite these efforts, many civilians, including the family of Mazen Al-Fayoumi, were not spared. Al-Fayoumi, a father of 13, lost his 17-year-old daughter, son-in-law, and niece in the attacks. The classroom where his family was sheltering was struck, even though it’s rumored that the target was a nearby room possibly used by Hamas police.
Hamas, the group in control of Gaza, condemned the attacks, calling them another example of Israel’s “brutal massacres” against civilians. However, Hamas did not address claims that its fighters were using these buildings for military purposes.
Juliette Touma, a spokeswoman for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees, pointed out that strikes on U.N. schools in Gaza have increased in recent weeks. She emphasized that as U.N. facilities, these schools should be protected. However, the Israeli military has consistently stated that these buildings are being used by Hamas. Touma stressed the seriousness of these claims but noted that the U.N. has no means to confirm or deny them.
Youssif Saudi, a freelance videographer, witnessed the aftermath of the strikes. He described a scene of devastation at the al-Zahraa school, where people were desperately trying to rescue survivors. Saudi said he saw at least ten bodies, including women and children, in the rubble.
As the conflict continues, Israel has ordered civilians to evacuate to smaller areas, leading to overcrowding in schools and other shelters. On Thursday, the IDF issued new evacuation orders for parts of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, warning that Hamas and other groups were launching rockets from these areas.
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One resident of Khan Younis, Saed al-Aqqad, expressed his frustration with the repeated displacements. He said he wouldn’t leave his home again, despite the danger, as moving meant struggling to find basic necessities like water and food. He summed up the feelings of many when he said, “We prefer to die in our homes.”
