Israeli strike kills 22 in Gaza school shelter; IDF targets Hamas command centre amid ongoing conflict
PTC Web Desk: At least 22 persons, primarily women and children, were killed on Saturday in an Israeli airstrike targeting a school sheltering displaced civilians in southern Gaza City, according to Palestinian reports. The Israeli military stated that the strike aimed at a command centre used by the militant group Hamas.
Footage from the scene revealed devastation, with walls blasted, furniture destroyed, and debris scattered across the area. Witnesses described a sudden attack while children were playing and families were gathered in the school's playground. Said Al-Malahi, one of the witnesses, said, "Two rockets hit suddenly, killing women and children in the playground."
Ambulances struggled to cope with the aftermath, while some of the dead were carried away on donkey carts. Another witness, Ahmed Azzam, expressed frustration at the lack of intervention from neighbouring Arab countries, adding, "It was all women and children... Let them clap for Netanyahu and the United States."
In Rafah, four health workers were reportedly killed in an Israeli strike targeting warehouses belonging to Gaza's health ministry, with rescue operations hindered by ongoing attacks. The Israeli military confirmed that its operations in Rafah had eliminated dozens of militants and disrupted key military infrastructure, including tunnel shafts.
Negotiations to reach a ceasefire have been hampered by disagreements, particularly over Israel’s insistence on controlling the southern Rafah-Egypt border. Hamas, however, remains focused on ending the war and removing Israeli forces from Gaza. The exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners remains another significant challenge in peace talks.
- With inputs from agencies
