The aftermath of an Israeli strike on a school building in Gaza City has left more than 70 people dead, according to the director of a hospital where many of the casualties were taken. Fadl Naeem of al-Ahli Hospital described the scene as horrific, with body parts everywhere and blood covering the walls.
The Israeli military claims that the school served as an active Hamas and Islamic Jihad military facility, a claim that Hamas denies. This strike, along with several others on shelters in Gaza, has drawn criticism from Western powers and regional countries, who accuse Israel of lacking the desire to reach a ceasefire.
Witnesses reported that the strike hit during dawn prayers at the school, which also served as a mosque and housed over 1,000 people, including displaced individuals from Beit Hanoun. The attack has reignited the debate over the use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes, with Israel claiming that Hamas is using schools and hospitals to plan and carry out attacks.
The United Nations has condemned the strikes on schools, with more than 80% of them directly hit or damaged since early July. The international community is calling for an immediate ceasefire, with Egypt and Qatar demanding urgent investigations into the incident. The escalating violence in Gaza has left thousands dead and displaced, with no end to the conflict in sight.
