At least 93 Palestinians were killed in a devastating Israeli airstrike that targeted a school and mosque in Gaza, where displaced individuals had sought refuge, according to local authorities. This incident has ignited a wave of international outrage and condemnation.
The strike occurred overnight at the Al-Tabi’in compound in the Al-Daraj neighborhood of Gaza City, where people were engaged in dawn prayers. Gaza Civil Defense Spokesperson Mr. Mahmoud Basal described the scene, saying, “We recovered at least 90 bodies, many of them torn apart and still unidentified.”
Israel confirmed the airstrike, stating that it was aimed at a Hamas command post within the compound and claiming that several Hamas fighters were killed in the operation. An Israeli military official emphasized, “Numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions.”
However, eyewitnesses and local officials dispute this, with Fares Afana, director of ambulances and emergency services in northern Gaza, stating, “All of these people who were targeted were civilians—unarmed children, the elderly, men, and women.”
A man who lost multiple family members in the attack lamented, “These were innocent people praying… Where is the entire world?”
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also reported that at least 19 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants were eliminated in the strike. They maintain that “precise munitions” were used and dispute the extent of the reported damage.
The international community has responded with harsh criticism. The UN Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, accused Israel of “genociding the Palestinians one neighborhood at a time, one hospital at a time, one school at a time.”
Qatar and Egypt, key regional mediators, condemned the strike, labeling it a violation of international law and calling for immediate ceasefire negotiations. The United States, through the National Security Council, expressed “deep concern” over civilian casualties and emphasized the importance of minimizing harm to non-combatants.
As the conflict continues, the toll on Gaza has been catastrophic. The Gaza Ministry of Health reports that nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel’s military campaign, with over 90,000 injured. Nearly the entire population of 2.3 million has been displaced, prompting accusations of genocide, which Israel denies.
The strike on Saturday is the fifth such attack on a school in Gaza within the past week, adding to the growing international demand for an immediate ceasefire and a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
