Airstrike on UN School in Gaza Kills Dozens: Israel Claims Target Was Militants
By: Niraj Kumar | My Global Times
Violent Day Across Gaza and West Bank
Today marked another violent day in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, with devastating airstrikes and mounting casualties. A United Nations school in Gaza, which had been converted into a shelter for displaced civilians, became the focal point of tragedy as dozens were killed in an Israeli airstrike. Israel maintains that its target was Hamas militants operating in the area, while Palestinians and UN officials are decrying the heavy civilian death toll, which includes six UN staff members.
Aftermath of the UN School Strike
The strike on the UN school in Gaza left a scene too gruesome for many to bear. Survivors were seen collecting the remains of those killed, with bodies strewn across what was once a classroom turned temporary shelter. Eyewitness accounts describe a nightmarish situation, as families already fleeing violence became the latest victims of the airstrikes.
According to Israel, the airstrike was aimed at Hamas militants allegedly using the school as a base to plan attacks. The claim has sparked outrage from Palestinian officials and humanitarian organizations, who emphasize that the victims included many women and children. The strike occurred near Al-Mawasi, an area to which thousands of displaced Palestinians had fled, believing it to be safer. However, the devastating power of the bombs that struck—leaving craters over 40 feet wide—showed that nowhere is truly safe in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Testimony from Survivors
Among those caught in the strike was 12-year-old Mohammad Nasser. “It was like any other night here, and then we heard rockets coming down right next to us,” Mohammad recounted. “I found myself 1.5 meters under the ground with dirt above me. I didn’t think I would be saved.”
For Mohammad and many others, the ordeal of surviving a direct airstrike has become an all-too-frequent reality. The scenes in Gaza, particularly in supposed humanitarian zones like the UN school, underscore the harsh conditions civilians face as violence continues to escalate.
Medical and Humanitarian Crisis
Fady Abed, a former dentist now working for MedGlobal, an international medical humanitarian organization, spoke of the mounting challenges in Gaza. “People were digging and searching for bodies under the sand,” Abed said. “There were at least more than 20 tents that were completely gone.”
Abed, who has been displaced multiple times since the conflict intensified on October 7th, said that even areas designated as “humanitarian zones” no longer feel safe. “We thought moving to the so-called safer yellow area would help, but even there, people are dying.”
This tragedy is emblematic of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and essential services like healthcare are on the brink of collapse. The international community, including the United Nations, has repeatedly called for both sides to protect civilians and respect international law, but the situation on the ground remains dire.
Israel’s Response: Targeting Hamas
Israel defended its actions by stating that the airstrike targeted three senior Hamas commanders who were involved in planning the October 7th attacks. These militants, Israel claims, had taken refuge inside the school, using the civilian population as a human shield. David Mencer, a spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, reiterated Israel’s stance: “Israel is trying its hardest, more than any other nation, to get civilians out of harm’s way and focus solely on terrorist targets.”
However, this justification has done little to placate Palestinian leaders or international human rights groups, who argue that the civilian death toll from Israeli airstrikes continues to rise alarmingly, with indiscriminate bombing in densely populated areas.
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Rising Tensions in the West Bank
Violence was not confined to Gaza. In the West Bank, an Israeli soldier was killed when a Palestinian truck driver rammed into a bus stop. Additionally, Israeli raids backed by airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least five Palestinians, further fueling unrest in the region.
Adding to the tension is the death of Aysenur Eygi, a 26-year-old American citizen, in the West Bank. Eygi, born in Turkey, was shot dead by Israeli forces during a protest against Israeli settlements. Israel claims that the shot that killed her was a ricochet aimed at a protest instigator, an explanation that U.S. President Joe Biden echoed, calling the death “an accident.”
However, Eygi’s family and supporters are far from satisfied, accusing the Biden administration of downplaying the incident and failing to hold Israel accountable. “There must be full accountability, and Israel must do more to ensure incidents like this never happen again,” Biden later said in a statement.
Conclusion: No End in Sight
As the conflict rages on, there appears to be no clear path toward peace. The civilian death toll continues to rise, and even supposed safe zones like the UN school are not immune to the violence. The international community’s calls for a ceasefire seem to be falling on deaf ears, with both sides entrenched in their positions. For the people of Gaza, and indeed the wider region, the hope for safety and peace remains a distant dream.
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