At least 40 killed as Israel strikes UN-operated school in Central Gaza
IDF defends the attack, claiming they surveyed and looked to ground intel to avoid any civilians from being dragged into the crossfire and blamed all civilian casaulties on Hamas for hiding in residential areas.
A strike on a UN school in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza resulted in the tragic loss of at least 33 lives, that could go upto 45, including women and children.
The Israeli military claimed the school was being used by Hamas militants, but has not provided any evidence further than an image pointing towards the second and third floors of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) school, claiming militants used these grounds to stage attacks against IDF soldiers.
Survivors of the strike, however, grieve the loss of the victims and project the deaths at atleast 14 children and 9 women.
The strike occurred amidst heightened tensions and military activities in the region. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) described the attack as a “precise strike” targeting militants involved in recent attacks.
However, local health officials and witnesses reported that the school was filled with displaced Palestinian civilians seeking refuge from the ongoing violence. Since the start of the war, over 2.2 million Palestinians who lived in the Gaza strip have been displaced from the safety of their homes into refugee shelters to seek an escape from the constant assault.
The IDF blames all civilian casualties that has occurred due to this war on Hamas, claiming they shelter their war machines inside residential areas.
Overwhelmed Medical Facilities in Central Gaza
The images born out of this disaster are terrifying, with Palestinians documenting each moment of the brutality being committed against them to no real relief provided by the international community.
However, these chilling pictures highlight how much worse the situation is getting and that a need for a ceasefire is getting more and more urgent by the day.
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in nearby Deir al-Balah reported receiving up to 40 bodies, indicating that the projected death toll of 33 could be even higher. The UNRWA, which operates the school, has not confirmed the exact number of casualties but estimates range between 35 and 45.
Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital has been overwhelmed since the central Gaza incursion began 24 hours earlier. Videos have been circulating of patients being treated on the floor and several parts of the hospital facing no power as the staff try to ration fuel supplies for the generator.
This incident has raised questions about the conduct of military operations in densely populated areas and the protection of civilians during armed conflict.
The IDF has stated that it postponed the strike twice to separate militants from civilians, but the high civilian casualty count has led to accusations of disregard for civilian life.
The international community, including humanitarian organizations and the United Nations, has called for a thorough investigation into the incident. There is a pressing need for all parties to adhere to international law, particularly the principles of distinction and proportionality, to prevent further loss of innocent lives.
Alongside this, the IDF has finally left the Jabalia camp and first responders intervened immediately to find a count of around 360 bodies, mostly women and children, who were killed during battle. Earlier, when Israel sent troops into Gaza, it claimed the feat to be a limited incursion.
However, the troops are now operating in central parts of the city and many videos posted online by the troops themselves show a display of almost barbaric conduct as they enter deserted houses and raid them, mocking those that lived there.
Meanwhile, Israel’s war cabinet is also divided on the front of the future of Gaza, with discussion prompted and ongoing by its centrist party leader Benny Gantz, demanding to know who is to govern over Gaza when all is said and done.
Ayman Rashed, a survivor from the school told the Associated Press (AP), how helpless the rescue efforts post the strike were. He helped carry out five dead, a number that included an old man and two children— one with his head shattered open.
“It was dark, with no electricity, and we struggled to get out the victims,” he said.
This is not a unique experience for Palestinians, who have to pull their loved one out of debris almost every single day since Israel waged the war.
You might also be interested in – “Sent diplomat to Israel to stop war in Gaza during Ramzan”: PM Modi
