Dozens are reported dead after an Israeli airstrike on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City amid a significant military offensive aimed at pressuring Hamas for hostage releases.
Israeli Airstrikes Devastate Gaza Shelter, Toll Rises
Israeli Airstrikes Devastate Gaza Shelter, Toll Rises
A tragic escalation in the Gaza conflict has led to a catastrophic loss of innocent lives as Israeli strikes increase in intensity.
Dozens of individuals were killed on Thursday as an Israeli airstrike targeted a school converted into a shelter in Gaza City, according to reports from local health officials. The strike occurred during an intensification of Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which aims to compel Hamas to release more hostages currently in its custody.
Health authorities stated that 27 bodies from the attack were received at Al Ahli Arab Hospital, although they do not categorize victims as combatants or civilians. Videos verified by The New York Times display the explosive incident at Dar al-Arqam school located in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City, where numerous civilians had sought refuge. The footage reveals the chaotic scene with people carrying injured victims, including many children, towards ambulances amidst the smoldering ruins.
Mohammed al-Najjar, a survivor and resident of the school, expressed his shock over the bombing. "We were surprised when the school was bombed," he relayed through a voice message, noting a subsequent series of airstrikes followed the initial one.
Before the attack, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee urged residents of the Tuffah area to evacuate, a request many complied with, though many others remained in their shelters citing past displacements and a lack of suitable alternatives.
The recent airstrikes follow the collapse of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in mid-March, which resulted in over 1,000 fatalities in Gaza since March 18, according to healthcare officials. This escalation represents a critical moment in the ongoing hostilities, drawing international attention to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
Adam Rasgon reports from Jerusalem covering Israeli and Palestinian news, while Aric Toler specializes in visual investigations to analyze open-source information related to these developments. For further updates on the Israel-Hamas conflict, please stay tuned to Flux Daily's coverage on multidimensional global events.
