On Saturday, the Gaza health ministry reported that an Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced families in southern Gaza City resulted in the deaths of at least 22 people. The majority of those killed were women and children, including 13 children and a three-month-old baby, according to local sources.
The Israeli military stated that the strike targeted a Hamas command center located within the school compound, claiming Hamas uses civilian infrastructure for military operations, a point Hamas denies.
In another incident in Rafah, the Gaza health ministry reported the deaths of four health workers due to an Israeli strike on ministry warehouses, hindering ambulance crews from reaching the injured.
The Israeli military highlighted ongoing operations in Rafah aimed at dismantling Hamas’ military capabilities, stating that dozens of militants have been killed in recent weeks.
Efforts for a ceasefire have stalled, largely due to disputes over control of the southern border with Egypt and the terms for exchanging Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. This escalation is part of the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which intensified after a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in significant casualties on both sides.
