An Israeli airstrike struck Kafr Qasem School in the Beach camp area of Gaza City on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of seven people, including a high-ranking Hamas official, according to Palestinian health officials. The attack occurred around 11 a.m. local time (0800 GMT) and was part of a broader military operation by Israel, which has intensified in recent weeks amid ongoing hostilities.
The Israeli military stated that the airstrike targeted Hamas militants operating from the school compound, asserting that aerial surveillance and other precautions were taken to minimize civilian casualties. However, this claim has been met with skepticism, as Hamas, which governs Gaza, has consistently denied using civilian buildings for military purposes during the ongoing conflict.
The tragic incident coincided with a surge in violence in Gaza, where the health ministry reported that at least 16 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes throughout the day, with six fatalities occurring in separate airstrikes across central and southern Gaza. Among the deceased was Majed Saleh, the director of the Hamas-run Public Works and Housing ministry, further highlighting the conflict’s toll on key figures in the region.
In Rafah, near the border with Egypt, residents reported advancing Israeli tanks taking positions in the western parts of the city, where military operations have been ongoing since May. The Israeli military stated that its forces had eliminated numerous militants and dismantled military infrastructure in the area.
Compounding the humanitarian crisis, Gaza’s health ministry issued a warning that all hospital services could cease within ten days due to critical shortages of essential spare parts and fuel for generators. As heavy rains flooded makeshift tent encampments, displaced residents expressed their desperation. Aya, a 30-year-old mother displaced with her family, lamented, “Ten minutes of rain were enough to sink the tents. What if it rained all day? We don’t want new tents. We want the war to end.”
Juliette Touma, Director of Communications for the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, emphasized the urgent need for more shelters and supplies as winter approaches, highlighting the increased vulnerability of children to illnesses as temperatures drop.
This current escalation of violence marks a significant phase in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which reignited on October 7, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of approximately 250 hostages. In retaliation, Israel has conducted extensive military operations in Gaza, leading to a staggering death toll of over 41,300 Palestinians, according to local health officials, and displacing nearly the entire population of 2.3 million in the enclave.
As the situation continues to unfold, calls for ceasefire negotiations and humanitarian aid have become increasingly urgent in the face of escalating violence and deteriorating living conditions for the people of Gaza.
