Over 50 Killed in Israeli Strikes on Gaza School and Home

At least 54 Palestinians have been killed in two separate Israeli airstrikes overnight in Gaza, according to hospital officials.

One of the strikes hit Fahmi Al-Jargawi School in Gaza City, where hundreds of displaced families were sheltering. The school was turned into temporary living quarters after families fled heavy fighting in nearby Beit Lahia.

A Gaza Civil Defence spokesperson said 20 bodies, including children, were found in the burned-out classrooms. Many victims were badly burned after the fire spread through the building.

The Israeli military (IDF) said it was targeting a Hamas and Islamic Jihad command center and claimed militants were using the school to plan attacks and hide among civilians.

“Flames were everywhere,” said Rami Rafiq, a neighbor. “My son fainted when he saw the bodies.”

Among those killed in the school strike was Mohammad Al-Kasih, a Hamas police officer, along with his family.

Second Strike Hits Jabalia Home

A second airstrike hit a house in Jabalia, killing 19 people, according to a hospital official. The IDF has not yet commented on that attack.

The strikes are part of a wider Israeli offensive in northern Gaza. The IDF said it hit 200 targets across Gaza in two days.

Children Among Recent Victims

On Friday, an Israeli airstrike hit the home of Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, killing nine of her ten children, all under 12. Her husband is in critical condition. The Israeli military said it is reviewing the incident.

Two Red Cross workers were also killed in a strike on their home in Khan Younis. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the deaths highlight the high civilian toll in Gaza and called again for a ceasefire.

Israel had blocked most aid into Gaza for 11 weeks before allowing limited trucks to enter. The UN says 500–600 trucks a day are needed, but only 388 arrived this week.

The head of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, Jake Wood, resigned on Sunday, saying the group’s aid plans didn’t meet international standards of neutrality and independence. The group still plans to begin deliveries to over one million people this week.

Leaders from 20 countries met in Madrid to discuss ending the war. Spain’s Foreign Minister called for an arms embargo on Israel if it continues its attacks.

The war began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages.

Since then, over 53,900 people in Gaza have been killed, including more than 16,500 children, according to Gaza’s health ministry.