Israeli Airstrike Devastates UN School in Gaza, Leaving Over 30 Dead and Sparking Global Outrage

In a devastating incident early Thursday, an Israeli airstrike targeted a United Nations school-turned-shelter in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, resulting in significant casualties among displaced Palestinians.

According to local health officials, the strike claimed the lives of over 30 people, including many women and children. This attack has intensified the ongoing conflict and raised serious concerns about the safety of civilians in the region.

The school, operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), was sheltering approximately 6,000 people who had fled from other parts of Gaza due to continuous Israeli military operations.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene as missiles struck the second and third floors of the al-Sardi School, where families were seeking refuge.

Ayman Rashed, a displaced person from Gaza City, recounted the horror of helping to carry out the dead, including children and elderly individuals, in the darkness caused by the lack of electricity.

Hospital officials at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in nearby Deir al-Balah confirmed receiving at least 33 bodies from the strike, including 14 children and nine women.

Videos circulating online showed wounded people being treated on the hospital floor due to the overwhelming number of casualties and limited medical resources. The hospital, already struggling with fuel shortages, faced severe challenges in managing the influx of patients with traumatic injuries.

The Israeli military justified the strike by claiming that Hamas militants were using the school as a compound to plan and launch attacks. Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, stated that the military had been monitoring the school and postponed the attack twice to minimize civilian casualties.

Despite these claims, the IDF did not provide concrete evidence to support the presence of militants at the site. The lack of clear evidence and the high civilian death toll have fueled international condemnation and calls for accountability.

UNRWA’s commissioner-general, Philippe Lazzarini, confirmed that the school was sheltering civilians and stated that the organization could not verify the Israeli claims about militants’ presence. Juliette Touma, a UNRWA spokesperson, emphasized that UN facilities must not be used for military purposes and called for investigations into the attacks on UN buildings.

This airstrike is part of a broader Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which has seen repeated incursions and intensified air and ground assaults. Since the conflict’s escalation on October 7, when Hamas militants launched a deadly attack on Israel, the Israeli offensive has led to extensive destruction and a staggering civilian death toll in Gaza.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of whom are civilians.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated drastically, with hospitals facing severe shortages of medical supplies and fuel. Doctors Without Borders reported that Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital is struggling to treat a massive influx of patients with severe injuries, many of them women and children.

The strike occurred amidst renewed diplomatic efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, with involvement from U.S. officials, including CIA Director William Burns.

However, the prospects for a ceasefire remain uncertain as both sides have entrenched positions. Hamas has rejected recent ceasefire proposals, demanding a lasting cessation of hostilities and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel insists on continuing its operations until Hamas is decisively weakened.

The international community, including the European Union, has expressed deep concern over the escalating violence and the targeting of UN facilities. There are growing calls for a thorough investigation into the violations of international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians in conflict zones.