Israeli air strikes have struck two United Nations–run schools used as shelters for internally displaced Palestinians in Gaza City, marking yet another escalation in the enclave’s already dire humanitarian crisis. The attacks reportedly killed over 40 people and destroyed more than 20 buildings, including residential towers and shelters, after sustained bombardment since dawn in multiple areas across the war‑torn strip.
The Gaza Government Media Office reports that approximately 1.3 million Palestinians remain in Gaza City and the North 350,000 of them children, despite forcible evacuation orders and intense military operations. Israel has deployed artillery shells, smoke bombs, and dropped leaflets urging civilians in western districts to move south for their own safety.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that removing Hamas leaders hiding in Qatar is critical to any deal to free all hostages and bring about an end to hostilities. While Israel claims to have displaced over 250,000 residents from Gaza City in its intensified campaign, Gaza officials report far fewer have managed to evacuate—many citing lack of space in the south and continuing strikes there as well.
The United Nations and international actors continue to call on Israel to halt its planned takeover of Gaza City, warning that such an offensive risks worsening famine, mass displacement, and destruction in an area already suffering collapsing infrastructure, shortages of food, medicine, and shelter.
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