Israel Launches Airstrike on Gaza School, Leaving 22 Dead

At least 22 people, mostly women and children, have lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike on a school in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Defense Forces Target Hamas Headquarters

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Saturday, September 21, 2024, that they had launched an airstrike on the headquarters of Hamas, which was allegedly hidden inside a school in Gaza City. The IDF claimed that the location was being used by Hamas to plan and carry out terrorist attacks against Israel.

Casualties and Destruction Reported

The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that the airstrike on the school in al-Zaytoun resulted in at least 22 fatalities, including six children and six women. One of the women who died was also pregnant. The Gaza Civil Defense Office confirmed the casualties.

Disturbing images have been circulating online, showing the aftermath of the airstrike. The BBC has verified the authenticity of these images, which depict injured children and adults receiving CPR. Some individuals have lost limbs in the attack.

IDF Claims to Have Minimized Civilian Risk

The IDF stated that they had taken measures to minimize the risk to civilians as much as possible. However, they accused Hamas of systematically evading international law by operating within Gaza’s civilian infrastructure and using residents as human shields to carry out terrorist activities.

Additional Attacks Reported

On the same day, the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that Israel had attacked a warehouse in the Musabah area of southern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of four workers and injuring six others.