Deadly Strike on Gaza School Kills 22, Sparks Outrage

A devastating strike on a UN-run school in central Gaza killed at least 22 Palestinians and injured over 100 more on Sunday, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The Abu Oraiban School, located in the Nuseirat refugee camp and serving as a shelter for displaced individuals, was the target.

The Israeli military claimed the strike was aimed at Hamas "terrorists" using the school as a base. However, witnesses and residents disputed these claims, stating there were no armed fighters present and that children were among the casualties.

This incident is the fifth attack on or near schools in the past eight days. The UN estimates that 1.9 million people, or 90% of Gaza's population, have been forced to flee their homes, with many seeking refuge in schools like Abu Oraiban.

A displaced woman shared her experience with BBC Arabic, describing the chaos during the strike: "As soon as the explosion occurred, the walls of the room collapsed on us. I saw a little boy whose leg was bleeding and a dismembered corpse which people covered with blankets."

Another resident, who had been living at the school for six months, described the aftermath: "There are no armed men and no reason to strike schools this way. The dead and injured people are mainly women and children staying at this school." 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) maintained that Hamas fighters were using the school as a hideout and operational base, stating they took numerous steps to minimize civilian harm, including using precise munitions and gathering additional intelligence. The IDF accused Hamas of using civilians and civilian structures as "human shields," a claim Hamas has denied.

In addition to the school strike, fresh air and artillery strikes in central Gaza on Monday reportedly killed five people in the Maghazi refugee camp. The IDF reported that its aircraft had struck dozens of "terror targets" across Gaza in the past day.

Hamas announced ongoing indirect negotiations with Israel for a ceasefire and hostage release deal, following a deadly air strike on Saturday in the southern al-Mawasi humanitarian area, which the health ministry said killed over 90 people.

Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following an unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in about 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages taken. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 38,660 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the conflict, though these figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

As the violence continues, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, with the international community urging both sides to prioritize the protection of civilians and seek a peaceful resolution.