Israeli Airstrike on School Compound in Northern Gaza Claims Civilian Lives

Israeli Military Strikes School Compound in Northern Gaza

On Saturday, the Israeli military reported that it had conducted an airstrike on a school compound in northern Gaza, which it claimed was being used as a base by Hamas. This attack was one of several strikes that were reported by medical teams throughout the region during the night.

According to rescue services in Gaza, the Israeli strike targeted the Halimah al-Saadiyah school located in the town of Jabaliya. Tragically, this attack resulted in the deaths of four individuals who were seeking refuge in tents set up by displaced Palestinians around the school premises.

The Israeli military issued a statement asserting that the strike was a “precise operation” aimed at Hamas militants utilizing the former school compound as a stronghold. However, the military did not confirm whether any fatalities among militants had occurred during the attack. They emphasized that “numerous measures were implemented to reduce the risk of civilian casualties” prior to the strike and attributed the civilian harm to Hamas fighters who allegedly conceal themselves within the civilian population of Gaza.

The latest casualties contribute to a staggering toll of over 40,000 Palestinians reported killed during the 11 months of ongoing conflict, as per the health authorities in Gaza. It’s important to note that these figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

The strike in Jabaliya was followed by a series of bombardments across northern and central Gaza, including attacks in the town of Nuseirat and in Gaza City itself. Reports from Gaza’s emergency services indicated that children were among those killed in these subsequent strikes.

Throughout the beleaguered Gaza Strip, numerous schools have been repurposed into makeshift shelters, now accommodating tens of thousands of Gazans attempting to escape the relentless Israeli bombardment. For the nearly two million civilians residing in the enclave, most of whom have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict, officials from the United Nations and various aid organizations have expressed that no location within Gaza can be considered truly safe.

Israel has pledged to target Hamas militants wherever they may be located, and its military operations have frequently targeted zones where civilians were previously instructed to evacuate. In recent months, Israel has repeatedly ordered evacuations of civilians and has continually reduced the size of the enclave’s designated “humanitarian zone” in central Gaza. This has forced an increasing number of Palestinians to crowd into increasingly confined spaces or seek shelter in places they hope might provide some safety, such as hospitals and schools.

Despite the awareness among many Gazans that schools—having ceased educational activities this year due to the conflict—are not guaranteed safe havens, they continue to seek refuge in or around these institutions. This is largely because schools offer essential amenities such as plumbing and basic access to water and sanitation facilities.