Gaza Schools Bombed: 30 Lives Taken in Attack!

In a continuation of violence in the Gaza Strip, rescue workers scrambled to pull victims from the wreckage of two school buildings hit by Israeli airstrikes on Sunday. According to the Palestinian Civil Defense, at least 30 people were killed in the attacks. This incident follows another deadly strike that took place on Saturday, intensifying an already bloody weekend in the region.

Women and Children Among the Dead

Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defense, stated in an interview that most of the victims recovered on Sunday were women and children. The schools had been serving as shelters for families displaced by ongoing violence, and rescue efforts are ongoing in the hope of finding survivors trapped beneath the debris.

“The majority of the bodies recovered Sunday have been women and children,” Basal said, adding that operations continue in hopes that some people remain alive under the destroyed buildings.

Targeting Hamas Infrastructure

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency have claimed responsibility for the airstrikes, stating that their intended targets were “terrorists operating inside Hamas command and control centers” located within the schools. The IDF argues that Hamas uses civilian infrastructure as shields for its military operations, embedding their operations within populated areas to deter attacks.

The IDF did not respond to CNN’s inquiries about the number of Hamas members and civilians killed in the strike, nor did they clarify whether civilians were given any advance warning.

Shocking Scenes of Destruction

Footage obtained from the scene reveals widespread devastation and casualties in the aftermath of the strikes. In the videos, the scene is chaotic as medics and rescue workers frantically work to transport injured children to ambulances. The scale of the destruction is evident, with three floors of Al-Nasr School’s northern wing destroyed, along with the ground floor of the adjacent Hassan Salama School. These buildings had become temporary refuges for hundreds of displaced individuals, mainly women and children, according to local journalists.

“The two school buildings housed hundreds of displaced people, primarily women and children,” a local journalist told CNN, emphasizing the vulnerability of the shelters in the densely populated residential area where they were located.

Lack of Warning Criticized

Palestinian officials have criticized the IDF for failing to provide any warning before the airstrikes were carried out. They argue that prior notice could have significantly reduced the number of casualties.

“If a warning had been given, the number of deaths would have been lower,” Basal stated, reflecting the widespread sentiment of frustration and anger among Palestinian communities.

A Grim Continuation of Violence

The strikes on Sunday follow a series of attacks on Saturday that targeted the Al-Huda and Al-Hamama schools, also alleged by the IDF to house Hamas infrastructure. These earlier strikes resulted in at least 17 fatalities. Basal described the initial attack as “unexpected,” leading to a significant number of casualties.

“The first bombing was unexpected and resulted in a large number of martyrs and injured individuals. While the martyrs and injured were being retrieved, the occupation forces issued a warning that another strike was imminent,” Basal recounted.

Rising Toll of the Conflict

Since the beginning of Israeli military operations in Gaza on October 7, the death toll has soared. According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, the number of deaths reached 39,583 on Sunday, with an additional 91,398 people injured. The Israeli military campaign was launched in response to Hamas attacks that killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel.

A Deepening Crisis

The ongoing conflict in Gaza highlights the complex and deadly dynamics at play in the region. As violence escalates, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, leaving civilians trapped in a cycle of suffering. The international community watches with concern as efforts to broker peace remain elusive. The tragedy of Sunday’s airstrikes underscores the urgent need for dialogue and a long-term solution to the conflict.

The devastating impact on innocent lives serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of this protracted conflict, with calls for restraint and renewed efforts towards peace growing louder.