On July 9, 2024, an Israeli airstrike targeted the Al-Awda school in Abassan, east of Khan Younis in Gaza, resulting in a significant number of Palestinian casualties. The school was being used as a shelter for displaced civilians, many of whom were women and children. Various sources report different casualty figures, with death tolls ranging from 25 to 29, and dozens more injured.This attack marks the fourth time in four days that Israel has struck a school or nearby area where civilians were taking shelter. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that rescue teams are still working to evacuate the wounded to nearby hospitals. Eyewitnesses described horrific scenes, with one injured survivor stating they saw people ‘flying in all directions’ and emphasizing that the victims were all civilians.The Israeli military has not officially commented on this specific incident. However, Israel has acknowledged bombing three schools in recent days, claiming they were targeting militant Palestinians hiding in the facilities. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) reports that over 500 people have been killed in schools and shelters it runs in Gaza since the start of the war.This latest attack comes amid a broader escalation of violence in the region. The Gaza Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, states that at least 38,000 people have been killed since the beginning of the conflict in October 2023, with 70% of those killed being women and children. The ongoing conflict has forced approximately 2 million Palestinians to flee their homes.As the violence continues, diplomatic efforts are underway. New negotiations are expected in Qatar to advance towards a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. However, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh warned that the current Israeli attacks could ‘bring the talks back to square one’, highlighting the fragility of these peace efforts in the face of ongoing violence.
Key points
- An Israeli airstrike on Al-Awda school in Gaza killed between 25-29 Palestinians and injured dozens more.
- This is the fourth Israeli strike on a school used as a civilian shelter in Gaza in four days.
- The ongoing conflict has resulted in at least 38,000 Palestinian deaths since October 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
- Ceasefire negotiations are ongoing in Qatar, but are threatened by the continued violence.
Contradictionsđź‘ľWhile most sources report the attack on Al-Awda school, some reports mention different school names or locations, such as Nasser hospital.
There are also varying reports on the exact number of casualties, ranging from 25 to 29 deaths.
