GAZA CITY: Israel has stepped up its assault on Gaza City, launching a series of heavy strikes that have left dozens dead, including children, in what Palestinian officials described as one of the deadliest attacks on civilian infrastructure in recent weeks.
Witnesses and health officials said Israeli warplanes targeted a school that had been sheltering displaced families, killing multiple children and wounding dozens more. Images from the scene showed residents pulling bodies from the rubble as survivors searched frantically for loved ones. Ambulances struggled to reach the site due to ongoing bombardment in surrounding areas.
The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed that many of the victims were women and children, warning that the repeated targeting of schools, hospitals, and residential neighborhoods has turned the city into “a graveyard for civilians.” Local officials accused Israel of committing war crimes by deliberately striking shelters designated by the UN for displaced people.
Israel’s military, however, defended the operation, claiming the school compound was being used by Hamas fighters to launch attacks. A spokesperson said “precise strikes” were carried out against militants operating in civilian areas but did not provide evidence to support the claim.
The escalation comes as Israeli forces intensify ground and air operations in northern Gaza, with residents reporting some of the heaviest shelling since the conflict began. Thousands of civilians have fled deeper into the besieged enclave, but humanitarian agencies warn there is nowhere safe to go, as food, water, and medical supplies continue to run out.
International condemnation quickly followed the strike, with human rights organizations calling for an immediate ceasefire and an independent investigation into attacks on civilian sites. The UN reiterated its appeal for all parties to protect noncombatants, stressing that schools and hospitals must never be used as battlegrounds. Meanwhile, regional tensions are rising as protests erupted across Arab capitals in solidarity with Palestinians. Diplomats fear the conflict could expand further if the violence in Gaza City continues unabated.
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