On July 27, 2024, an Israeli airstrike hit the Khadija school in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, killing at least 30 Palestinians and injuring over 100. The school, which was housing approximately 4,000 displaced people and had a makeshift medical unit, was reportedly targeted by the Israeli military as a suspected Hamas command and control center.The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed the school was being used to store weapons and plan attacks against Israeli troops. However, Palestinian health authorities and civil defense agencies dispute this claim, emphasizing the civilian nature of the facility. Dr. Khalil Al-Daqran, spokesperson for Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital, reported that the majority of the victims were women and children.This attack comes amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza, particularly in Khan Younis, where a new offensive was launched earlier in the week. The United Nations estimates that around 150,000 people fled Khan Younis on Monday, intensifying the pressure on scarce food, water, and shelter supplies. The UN has criticized the mass evacuation orders as ‘confusing’ and warned that they are making it even harder to deliver emergency rations.The Gaza Health Ministry reports that since the conflict began on October 7, 2023, over 39,000 Palestinians have been killed. The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with the UN warning that the territory is at risk of famine.International mediators are expected to meet on Sunday to discuss a ceasefire proposal. However, as the crisis deepens and civilian casualties mount, there appears to be no immediate end in sight to the conflict.
Key points
- An Israeli airstrike on a school in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, killed at least 30 Palestinians and injured over 100.
- The Israeli military claims the school was used by Hamas, while Palestinian authorities dispute this.
- Mass evacuations and ongoing military operations are worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
- International mediators are set to meet to discuss a ceasefire proposal.
Contradictions👾There are conflicting claims about the nature of the school targeted in the airstrike, with Israeli forces stating it was a Hamas command center, while Palestinian authorities insist it was purely a civilian shelter.
👾The exact number of casualties varies slightly between reports, with most sources citing at least 30 dead, while one source reports 50 deaths.
