Israeli Airstrike on Gaza School Claims 28 Lives, Paramedics Report
An Israeli airstrike on a school housing displaced families in the central Gaza Strip has resulted in the deaths of at least 28 individuals, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
The attack occurred at the Rufaida al-Aslamia school, located near the organization’s headquarters in Deir al-Balah, injuring over 50 others.
Footage from the scene captured chaotic efforts to assist the injured amidst clouds of smoke and dust, with several children receiving treatment at the local al-Aqsa hospital.
The Israeli military claimed the airstrike was “precise,” targeting Hamas operatives believed to be using the school as a “command-and-control center.” They stated that measures were taken to reduce civilian casualties, accusing Hamas of misusing civilian infrastructure—an assertion the group has denied.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry also confirmed the death toll of 28, labeling the strike a “new massacre” perpetrated by Israeli forces.
With over 1.9 million Palestinians displaced since the conflict escalated a year ago, many schools have been converted into shelters. This escalation follows Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, initiated in response to a significant attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 people. Since then, Gaza’s health ministry reports over 42,060 fatalities in the territory.
