Children Among Victims as Israeli Strike Hits Gaza School Shelter

An Israeli military strike on a school compound in central Gaza’s Al Bureij camp killed at least 22 people, including seven children, on Tuesday, hospital officials reported. The school had served as a refuge for thousands displaced by ongoing violence.

The airstrike left a scene of devastation, with many more wounded. Videos from the area captured heartbreaking images of people digging through rubble in hopes of finding survivors, amid shredded tents and scattered belongings.

Safaa Al Khaldi, a displaced mother, said her son was among the injured. She voiced her anguish over the humanitarian crisis, noting how food scarcity has left children starving. “We can’t even get bread,” she cried. “What have we done wrong?”

The Israel Defense Forces stated that they were targeting Hamas operatives allegedly using the school compound as a command post. However, no additional evidence or clarity was offered by the military.

Anger erupted at the scene, with a woman loudly blaming Hamas for putting civilians in harm’s way. “Get them out of the schools! These children are innocent!” she shouted—a rare and bold criticism of the Gaza rulers.

This strike follows Netanyahu’s Monday statement that the population would be moved south as part of an expanded military campaign. Since its launch, the campaign has killed 48 Palestinians and wounded 142, adding to the over 2,500 deaths since March 18.

Health services in Gaza are collapsing, with the majority of hospitals only partially functional and clinics shutting down. The UN has warned of a worsening catastrophe and stressed the need for basic humanitarian protections and aid access.