Tragedy in Gaza: School Strike Claims Lives of 22, Including Children

At least 22 individuals, among them seven children, were killed on Tuesday when an Israeli airstrike hit a school compound in the Al Bureij refugee camp, central Gaza, where thousands of displaced residents were seeking shelter, according to hospital sources.

Numerous others sustained injuries in the incident, which left chaos and destruction at the site. Video footage revealed a massive crater amidst collapsed debris, with survivors frantically searching for loved ones among ruined tents and scattered personal items.

Safaa Al Khaldi, one of the shelter's occupants, shared that her son was hurt in the blast. “Our children are hungry, and they can’t even find bread,” she lamented, referring to Israel’s complete blockade of Gaza that has now stretched into a third month. “What did we do to deserve this?”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the strike targeted a Hamas command center, claiming militants were using the location to coordinate operations. However, no further details about the attack were disclosed.

In a rare and emotional outburst, a woman at the scene publicly condemned Hamas, accusing them of endangering civilians. “Hamas needs to leave the schools—stop hiding among the people!” she cried. “What crime did these children commit to deserve this?”

Just a day earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Gaza's population would be moved southward for protection as the government approved an intensified military operation. A far-right minister described this plan as a step toward the "conquest" of Gaza.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s healthcare system is nearing collapse. Over half of Gaza's hospitals are barely functioning, and clinics are shutting down amid the blockade. Aid groups warn of a worsening humanitarian catastrophe, with the UN emphasizing that civilians' basic needs must be met under international law.