Gaza rescuers report 18 killed in Israeli school strike

In a tragic incident, Israel bombed a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in central Gaza, killing 18 people, including U.N. staffers, while the Israeli army claimed it targeted a Hamas control center. The Al-Jawni school had been bombed multiple times during the 11-month war, with this strike leaving the facility in ruins. Gazans seeking shelter were left dead or injured, prompting outrage from the international community. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, reported the highest death toll among its team in a single incident, condemning the attack on civilian infrastructure. Survivors recounted the horrific aftermath, with bodies scattered in the rubble, highlighting the ongoing suffering in Gaza.

The conflict, marked by senseless violence and civilian casualties, has drawn condemnation from humanitarian organizations and world leaders. Efforts to secure a truce have been unsuccessful, with negotiations stalled amid deep-rooted animosities. Amid the escalating violence, a tragic helicopter crash claimed the lives of Israeli soldiers, adding to the toll of the Gaza campaign. The cycle of destruction and loss underscores the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to end the suffering of innocent lives caught in the crossfire.