In a tragic turn of events, an Israeli strike on what was believed to be a Hamas compound inside a UN school in central Gaza has resulted in the deaths of dozens of people, as reported by Palestinian officials. The strike, which took place in Nuseirat on Thursday, was said to have targeted Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants who were involved in the October 7 attack on Israel.
Hamas’s media office condemned the attack, labeling it a “horrific massacre” and stating that the strike on the school, where displaced Palestinians had sought shelter, claimed the lives of 40 individuals, including women and children, while injuring 74 others. The Israeli military, however, claimed that they had taken precautions to minimize civilian casualties, including conducting aerial surveillance before the strike and calling off the attack twice to limit harm to non-combatants.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has drawn international attention and condemnation, with the toll of the offensive reaching alarming numbers. Efforts to broker a ceasefire have been met with resistance from both sides, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisting on the destruction of Hamas before agreeing to any truce. Meanwhile, Hamas’s political bureau head, Ismail Haniyeh, has expressed the group’s demand for a permanent end to the war as part of any potential agreement.
As the conflict escalates, concerns have been raised about the possibility of a broader conflict involving Hizbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group. Recent cross-border fire incidents have heightened tensions, with the Israeli military confirming the death of a soldier following a Hizbollah drone strike. Netanyahu’s warning of “intense action in the north” and military leaders signaling a potential offensive in Lebanon indicate a volatile situation that could have far-reaching consequences.