Gaza Grief: Israeli Airstrike on School Kills Children, Sparks Outrage

Hospital officials confirmed that at least 22 people, including seven children, died Tuesday after an Israeli airstrike hit a school compound in Gaza’s Al Bureij refugee camp, where thousands had sought protection.

Dozens were also wounded in the attack. Footage from the scene showed extensive damage, with a gaping hole in the ground, collapsed shelters, and families combing through the wreckage in search of missing members.

Safaa Al Khaldi, a mother who had been staying at the school, said her son was injured in the strike. She described growing desperation amid Gaza’s worsening blockade: “Our kids are starving. There is no bread. Why is this happening?”

The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas command center embedded in the school, though it offered no specifics to support the claim. Civilian casualties have fueled further anger and grief across the enclave.

Amid the wreckage, a woman furiously called out Hamas for endangering innocent people. “Stop using the children as shields! They are paying the price for your war,” she cried, in an emotional plea rarely voiced so openly.

This incident followed Prime Minister Netanyahu’s announcement that Gaza residents would be relocated south for their safety. Since the expansion of military operations, 48 more Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

With Gaza’s hospitals barely functioning and aid blocked, agencies say the health system is collapsing. The UN reiterated that under international law, civilians must be protected and humanitarian needs must be fulfilled.