Gaza School Hit ​as Israel Intensifies Offensive

Updated May 26, 2025
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An Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza killed at least 36 people⁤ early Monday, according to Gazan emergency services. reports indicate many children were among the dead. The​ school was housing families displaced by the ongoing conflict.

The Israeli government confirmed the attack, stating it⁢ targeted what thay described as “terrorist” cells. They claimed to ⁣have struck 200 targets in the past 48 hours.shortly after,the Israeli army issued new evacuation orders​ for much of‌ southern Gaza,signaling an imminent,large-scale offensive ‌against Palestinian militias.

Simultaneously‍ occurring, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate ⁢the conflict appear stalled. While former President Donald⁣ Trump expressed a desire for a swift end to the war, ‍no concrete measures to pressure Israel have⁢ been announced.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza ​continues to deteriorate. Aid deliveries remain severely restricted, and concerns ⁢are​ growing about the effectiveness of alternative aid initiatives.Jake Wood, executive director⁢ of the Gaza Humanitarian ‍Foundation, resigned, citing doubts about the project’s adherence⁢ to humanitarian principles.


body of a​ victim following the⁣ Israeli strike on ⁤a Gaza school.

According ‍to the Israeli army, the targeted site, formerly the ‌Fahmi al Jarjawi school, housed Hamas and Islamic​ Jihad‍ command centers. They asserted that measures ‌were taken‌ to minimize civilian casualties,accusing ⁣Hamas of using civilians as human shields. This comes as the army investigates reports of ⁤Israeli soldiers using Palestinian detainees as human shields.

The ⁣Qatari-owned ⁢Al ⁢Jazeera reported, citing satellite imagery, that Israeli forces are⁤ erecting barriers around hospitals still functioning in northern ⁢Gaza. Armored vehicles are reportedly within ⁢100 meters of⁢ the Indonesian Hospital​ and surrounding the⁢ Al Awda Hospital.Over 90% of Gaza’s hospitals ‍have been damaged or destroyed ⁤during ⁢the conflict. The death⁣ toll in Gaza has surpassed 53,500, with women and children comprising more‍ than half​ of the casualties.

UNRWA representatives dispute Israel’s claims that it only targets‌ terrorists and military infrastructure. The agency ⁢stated ​that “there is no place where there is no⁤ risk” in ​Gaza, adding that shelters ⁢are overcrowded and many people are forced to sleep in unsanitary ‌conditions.


Interior of a classroom in the Gaza ‍school ⁢after the bombing.

According to the​ Times of‍ Israel,⁣ prime Minister Benjamin netanyahu aims to‌ control 75% of the Gaza Strip within two months as part of “Operation Gideon’s Chariots.” The newspaper reports that Israel currently controls 40% of the territory.

Netanyahu has instructed his negotiating team to travel to Doha, Qatar, to continue ceasefire⁢ talks amid international pressure.

“I see ‍children every day walking with empty bowls to⁤ the search for food⁣ or ⁣water,” said Rachel ⁢Cumming, director of Save The‍ Children ⁢in ‌Gaza. “Mothers ‌tell us that they feed their children with⁣ grass or ⁤dirty water,although they know they can get sick.”

Despite Israel’s announcement on May 18 that⁣ it ‍had lifted restrictions on food and medicine ​entering Gaza,‌ aid deliveries remain minimal. UNRWA reports that the number of trucks entering Gaza daily ranges from “none” to “some tens,” far below the 500 trucks needed⁢ to alleviate the‍ crisis.

Human rights groups in Gaza claim the resumption of aid is a‍ propaganda effort to ‍improve Israel’s image. The ‍Palestinian Center for Human Rights⁢ stated that the announcement “does ⁢not indicate a real intention‍ to respond to ‍the ⁢humanitarian catastrophe” and is “a clear attempt to clean its​ image before the international community.”

The resignation​ of Jake Wood from the gaza Humanitarian Foundation further complicates aid efforts. Wood cited concerns that the⁤ project, intended ⁢to bypass the UN in aid distribution, may not adhere to humanitarian​ principles. The initiative, involving Israeli soldiers ⁣and foreign mercenaries, has been widely criticized by humanitarian organizations.

What’s next

With the⁢ offensive intensifying ⁣and humanitarian ​aid ⁢efforts faltering, the situation in Gaza remains dire.