A Gaza hospital source reported that at least 10 people were killed and dozens wounded on Tuesday in an Israeli strike on a school serving as a shelter for displaced Palestinians. This marks the fourth such attack in four days. The source at Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis, where victims were taken, said the strike hit the gate of the Al-Awda school in Abasan, near the southern city of Khan Yunis.
Israel has yet to comment on the latest attack. However, they have previously acknowledged carrying out three other strikes on Gaza schools used as displacement shelters since Saturday. Officials in the Hamas-run territory report that these strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 20 people. Israel maintains that all three previous attacks targeted militants hiding in the schools.
The first incident occurred on Saturday when an Israeli strike hit the UN-run Al-Jawni school in Nuseirat, central Gaza, killing 16 people according to the territory’s health ministry. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, reported that 2,000 people were seeking shelter in the school at the time.
The following day, a strike on the church-run Holy Family school in Gaza City killed four, according to the civil defence agency. The Latin Patriarchate, owners of the school, stated that hundreds of people were gathered on the school grounds.
On Monday, another UNRWA-run school in Nuseirat was hit, with a local hospital confirming that several people were taken for treatment. Israel claimed that they targeted “several terrorists” using the school for cover.
Hamas has vehemently denied Israeli claims that they use schools, hospitals, and other civilian facilities for military purposes. According to UNRWA, more than 500 people have been killed in schools and other shelters they operate in Gaza since the war began on October 7 with the Hamas attack on Israel.
