Dozens Killed in Israeli Airstrike on Gaza School Shelter, Officials Report
By Rushdi Abualouf (Cairo) & Raffi Berg (London)
BBC News | Published 13 hours ago
At least 54 Palestinians, including multiple children, were killed overnight after an Israeli airstrike struck a school in Gaza City that was sheltering displaced families, local health officials have told the BBC.
The Fahmi Al-Jargawi School was housing hundreds who had fled the ongoing Israeli ground assault in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza. 35 people were confirmed dead at the school alone, many burned beyond recognition in fires ignited by the strike, according to Gaza’s Civil Defence.
Israel Says School Was Hamas ‘Command Center’
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strike targeted a “Hamas and Islamic Jihad command and control centre” and accused the militant groups of using civilians as “human shields.” Video footage from the aftermath showed charred classrooms, burning debris, and severely injured survivors, including children.
Faris Afana, head of Northern Gaza’s ambulance service, described the scene as horrific.
“There were sleeping children and women in those classrooms… We couldn’t rescue them because of the fire,” he said.
Local sources reported that Mohammad Al-Kasih, the head of Hamas’ police investigations in northern Gaza, was among those killed, along with his wife and children.
Second Strike Kills 19 in Jabalia
A separate airstrike hit a residential home in Jabalia, killing 19 more civilians, according to Dr. Fadel el-Naim, director of Al-Ahli Hospital. The Israeli military has not yet commented on this attack.
These strikes are part of a broader offensive that saw the IDF hit 200 targets in Gaza within 48 hours, intensifying their campaign in the region’s north.
Ceasefire Talks and Conflicting Claims
Amid rising casualties, Hamas said it accepted a new ceasefire proposal presented by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. However, Witkoff later told Reuters that the plan being discussed was “completely unacceptable” and did not align with his proposal.
A Palestinian official familiar with negotiations said the Hamas-approved plan includes:
- Release of 10 Israeli hostages in two phases
- A 70-day ceasefire
- Gradual Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza
- Release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including those serving long sentences
Israel has not officially responded, though local media cited anonymous officials saying the offer would be rejected.
Civilian Death Toll Continues to Climb
An earlier Israeli strike on Friday claimed the lives of nine children of Palestinian doctor Alaa al-Najjar. Her husband remains in critical condition, and their 11-year-old son was also injured. The Israeli military says it is reviewing the incident.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported the deaths of two staff members in a strike on their home in Khan Younis.
“This illustrates the intolerable civilian death toll in Gaza,” the ICRC said, reiterating calls for a ceasefire.
Aid Crisis Deepens Amid Blockade
On Sunday, Jake Wood, the head of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)—a controversial U.S.-Israeli-approved aid group—resigned, saying the aid delivery plan did not meet “humanitarian principles of neutrality.” Major international organizations have refused to collaborate with GHF over alleged discrimination in aid distribution.
Israel’s 11-week blockade, eased only recently, continues to stifle humanitarian access. On Sunday, 107 trucks were allowed in—far short of the 500–600 trucks daily the UN says are needed to prevent famine.
Global Response Builds
In Madrid, 20 nations and organizations convened to discuss ending the war. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares proposed an arms embargo on Israel if its offensive doesn’t stop.
Israel began its military campaign in response to Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 hostages taken—with 57 still in captivity.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 53,939 people, including over 16,500 children, have been killed since the war began.
