At least 29 people, predominantly women and children, were killed on Tuesday in a strike on a school in Gaza being used as a shelter for displaced people. This marks the fourth such incident in four days. The Hamas-run government media office has accused Israel of carrying out a “terrible massacre.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed conducting a strike in the area and stated they are reviewing the incident. The IDF acknowledged carrying out three previous strikes on Gaza schools used as shelters since Saturday.
The strike targeted the entrance of Al-Awda school in Abasan, near Khan Yunis, according to a source at Nasser hospital where the victims were taken. The hospital reported 29 fatalities and dozens of injuries.
“We were sitting at the entrance of the school… suddenly and without warning, rockets were fired,” said Mohammed Sukkar, an eyewitness to Tuesday’s strike.
The IDF stated that their air force had used “precise munition” to strike a “terrorist from Hamas’ military wing” near the school. “The incident is under review,” the military said in a statement.
Earlier attacks on schools in Gaza have also resulted in numerous casualties. Officials in Gaza reported that at least 20 people were killed in the previous strikes on schools. Israel maintained that these strikes targeted militants hiding in the schools.
On Saturday, an Israeli strike hit the UN-run Al-Jawni school in Nuseirat, central Gaza, killing 16 people according to the health ministry. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that 2,000 people were sheltering in the school at the time.
The following day, a strike on the Holy Family school in Gaza City killed four, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency. The Latin Patriarchate, owners of the school, reported that hundreds of people were present at the time of the attack.
On Monday, another UNRWA-run school in Nuseirat was struck. A local hospital reported several people were treated for injuries. Israel stated that it had targeted “several terrorists” using the school for cover.
Sources By Agencies
