Tragedy Strikes in Gaza

The peaceful scene of a soccer game in Gaza was shattered by the devastating impact of an Israeli airstrike near a school turned shelter in Khan Younis. The explosion, which occurred as the goalkeeper was lofting the ball to his teammates, caused chaos and tragedy in the courtyard, leading to the deaths of at least 27 people.

Witnesses described the horror of the moment, with Iyad Qadeh recounting how a calm day turned into a nightmare as a warplane fired a missile towards a group of young men at an internet cafe, resulting in a scene of screams and devastation with body parts scattered everywhere.

Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, highlighted the alarming frequency of attacks on school buildings in Gaza, with two-thirds of U.N. school buildings in the area being hit since the beginning of the conflict, leading to over 500 casualties.

The Israeli military stated that the airstrike was aimed at a Hamas member allegedly involved in previous attacks on Israel, but did not provide details on the outcome of the strike or the identity of the target. Reports of civilian casualties have raised concerns, prompting the military to investigate further.