Israeli Airstrike on Gaza School Kills at least 14, Palestinian Medics Report

GAZA CITY – An Israeli airstrike on a school compound in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza has killed at least 14 people and wounded dozens more, according to Palestinian health officials. The strike, which occurred late Monday, hit the Al-Ja'ouni school, which was being used as a shelter for families displaced by the ongoing war.

The Israeli military has confirmed it conducted a "precise strike" on the location, stating that it targeted Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants who were operating from within classrooms at the school. The incident underscores the devastating toll of the conflict on civilians and the contentious nature of military operations in densely populated urban areas.

Rescue workers and witnesses at the scene described a scene of chaos and devastation following the strike. First responders from the Palestinian Civil Defense navigated through rubble and debris to retrieve the dead and wounded. The administration of the nearby Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reported receiving at least 14 bodies, including women and children, with officials warning the death toll could rise as recovery efforts continue.

Conflicting Narratives Emerge

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement asserting that the strike was aimed at a Hamas command-and-control center embedded within the school. According to the IDF, the militants targeted were involved in planning attacks against Israeli forces in Gaza. The military added that it took "a number of steps to reduce the risk of harming uninvolved civilians," including conducting aerial surveillance and using precise munitions.

This account contrasts sharply with reports from Palestinian officials and humanitarian groups on the ground. The targeted facility was a government-run school that, like many others across the Gaza Strip, had become a de facto shelter for hundreds of Palestinians who had fled their homes from other parts of the enclave.

The Hamas-run government media office condemned the attack as a "horrific massacre," accusing Israel of deliberately targeting sheltering civilians. Such strikes on civilian infrastructure, particularly locations designated as safe zones or shelters, have drawn intense international scrutiny and condemnation throughout the nine-month war.

A Pattern of Attacks on Shelters

The strike on the Al-Ja'ouni school is not an isolated event. Throughout the conflict, numerous UN-run and other schools used as shelters have been hit, resulting in significant civilian casualties. Israel has repeatedly maintained that Hamas uses these facilities as cover for its military operations, a claim the militant group denies.

Humanitarian organizations, including the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), have consistently warned that there are no truly safe places in Gaza. They have called for all parties to the conflict to respect the sanctity of civilian sites, including schools, hospitals, and shelters, in accordance with international humanitarian law.

The latest incident comes as diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire and hostage-release deal remain stalled. The persistent violence and high civilian death toll continue to fuel calls from the international community for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for greater accountability for actions that result in civilian harm. The attack in Nuseirat is likely to amplify these demands and add further complexity to the delicate negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.