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An Israeli airstrike targeting a school in northern Gaza, which was serving as a shelter for displaced families, resulted in the deaths of at least 23 individuals on Wednesday. Additionally, another airstrike impacted a children’s hospital, according to reports from local health authorities.
Health officials indicated that the airstrike on Yaffa School, located in the Tuffah area of Gaza City, ignited fires in tents and classrooms. As of now, there has been no official response from Israel regarding the incident at the school.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as flames engulfed the school. Um Mohammed Al-Hwaiti recounted, “We were sleeping when suddenly there was an explosion. When we came out, we found the entire school ablaze, with tents on fire all around us.” She expressed the despair felt by many, saying, “People were calling out and trying to carry away the charred remains of loved ones, lamenting, ‘Dear God, only you can help us.'” Although harrowing, accounts like hers reflect the widespread grief permeating the community.
In addition to the casualties at the school, local medics reported at least 10 other fatalities from separate airstrikes throughout the enclave. Since the breakdown of a ceasefire on March 18, Israeli operations have reportedly resulted in over 1,600 Palestinian deaths, with many families displaced as Israel aims to establish a so-called buffer zone.
Impact on Children’s Hospital
Furthermore, the Gaza Health Ministry announced that an Israeli missile struck the upper section of the Durra Children’s Hospital, causing damage to the intensive care unit and disabling the solar energy system that provides power to the facility. Fortunately, there were no reported fatalities from this attack.
The healthcare system in Gaza has been severely strained due to an ongoing blockade that restricts the flow of supplies, including vital resources like fuel and electricity, since March. This blockade is part of a strategy aimed at incentivizing the Hamas leadership to release 59 Israeli hostages taken during the October 2023 confrontations. Hamas has indicated a willingness to negotiate their release but insists on a peace deal that would end hostilities.
According to reports, many victims of the Israeli strikes remain trapped beneath collapsed structures, with rescue teams hindered by continuous bombardment. Attacks have also targeted essential equipment, including bulldozers crucial for clearing debris and aiding in rescue efforts.
The Israeli military stated that it had targeted 40 engineering vehicles allegedly involved in “terrorist actions,” linking them to Hamas’s initial strikes on October 7, 2023.
Continuing Humanitarian Toll
Some of the heavy machinery was reportedly parked on the roads or in municipal garages at the time of the strikes. Gaza resident Nasser Mohammed Nasser voiced a poignant concern: “Some individuals have been under the rubble for a year now, and their families are still waiting for their recovery,” as he stood near the remains of destroyed construction equipment in Jabalia.
Before the recent escalation, the Palestinian community had expressed frustration over a shortage of heavy machinery, blaming Israel for obstructing the import of necessary equipment into Gaza, which they argued violated the terms of the January ceasefire.
The ongoing conflict was ignited by an attack from Hamas, which led to civilian casualties in southern Israel and the abduction of numerous individuals. Since then, reports indicate that Israeli military actions have resulted in the deaths of over 51,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, as per the Gaza Health Ministry, which has not delineated how many among the deceased were civilians versus combatants. In response, Israel claims to have eliminated approximately 20,000 militants, although substantial evidence for this figure has not been presented.
Source
www.cbc.ca