Gaza Officials Report Dozens Killed, Including Children, in Israeli Strikes

Gaza’s civil defence agency has reported that Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip have resulted in the deaths of at least 28 individuals, among them children. The agency further stated that a school providing shelter for displaced families was hit, leading to the deaths of eight people, four of whom were children, during the weekend. This situation unfolds as the UN has appealed to Israel to halt its attacks near a hospital located in northern Gaza. The Israeli military asserted that a Hamas command centre was situated within the Musa bin Nusair school compound in Gaza City. It has not provided comments regarding reports of attacks near the hospital. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on social media that “Hamas systematically violates international law,” and indicated that Israel’s reaction would involve acting “with force and determination against the terrorist organisations”. Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defence agency, informed the AFP news agency that the school had been converted into a shelter for Palestinians displaced due to the conflict. Abu, a displaced man residing at the school, recounted to BBC Arabic that the assault occurred as he was sleeping. He stated, “We were sleeping peacefully, then suddenly we woke up to the sound of a very powerful explosion.” Mahmoud, another individual, reported being asleep in a tent within the schoolyard when the incident happened. He conveyed to BBC Arabic, “Stones and shrapnel were flying, the school’s walls fell on our heads.” On Sunday, Pope Francis denounced the Israeli attacks on Gaza for the second consecutive day. He articulated his distress, reflecting “of such cruelty, to the machine-gunning of children, to the bombing of schools and hospitals”. Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, director of the Kamal Adwan hospital, reported that its generators had been struck and alleged that the Israeli army was targeting the fuel tank. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization (WHO), appealed to the IDF to stop attacks near the hospital. In a statement posted on social media, he remarked that Saturday night’s reports of “bombardment near Kamal Adwan Hospital and order to evacuate the hospital are deeply worrisome.” He added, “We call for an immediate ceasefire in the vicinity of the hospital and to protect the patients and health workers.” The hospital’s director also issued a statement asserting that Israeli forces were treating the hospital “as if we were a military installation.” Dr Hussam Abu Safiya stated, “Anyone who steps outside the hospital is at risk of being targeted.” He further mentioned that moving the hospital’s operations would endanger patients, and urged that health staff “be allowed to operate without the threat of evacuation.” Israel has not provided comments on the reports of an evacuation order, but informed the BBC that the hospital remained operational. Palestinian factions engaged in the conflict have communicated to the BBC that a ceasefire agreement is “closer than ever.” Figures from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry indicate that over 45,000 Palestinians have died during the 14-month conflict between Israel and Hamas. The conflict commenced on 7 October 2023, when Hamas-led gunmen launched an unprecedented assault on southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 individuals being taken hostage.