An Israeli airstrike on Wednesday targeted a U.N. school in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 individuals, including two children. The Israeli military claimed that the strike was aimed at Hamas militants who were allegedly planning attacks from within the school, although this assertion could not be independently verified.
Hospital officials from Awda Hospital in Nuseirat reported receiving 10 deceased individuals from the strike, while an additional four bodies were brought to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Among the casualties were a woman and two children, with at least 18 others sustaining injuries in the attack.
Tragically, one of the children killed was the daughter of Momin Selmi, a member of Gaza's civil defense agency. Selmi had been separated from his daughter for 10 months as he continued his rescue work in north Gaza while his family sought refuge in the south.
Many Palestinians displaced by Israeli offensives and evacuation orders are currently seeking shelter in Gaza's schools. The al-Jaouni Boys Preparatory School, which was struck in this incident, is one of the many schools in Gaza operated by the U.N. agency for Palestinians, UNWRA. This particular school has been targeted multiple times during the ongoing conflict.
Israel has defended its actions by stating that schools are being used by Hamas militants, whom they hold responsible for civilian casualties resulting from Israeli strikes. A survey conducted in July by the Education Cluster, a coalition of aid organizations led by UNICEF and Save the Children, revealed that over 90% of Gaza's school buildings have suffered severe or partial damage due to strikes, with more than half of the schools housing displaced individuals being hit.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, Israel's 11-month campaign has led to the deaths of at least 41,084 Palestinians and left another 95,029 wounded. The campaign was initiated in response to an attack on southern Israel by militants on October 7, during which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 250 others were abducted.
