- Israeli airstrikes on a Gaza school shelter killed at least 20 people, mostly children.
- Israel claims the school housed a Hamas and Islamic Jihad command center.
- Humanitarian officials and world leaders condemn rising civilian toll and aid restrictions.
At least 44 Palestinians were killed in two days of Israeli airstrikes, including 20 people sheltering in the Fahmi Al-Jarjawi school in Gaza City. The Israeli military stated it was targeting key Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives allegedly using the school as a command center.
The airstrike has sparked renewed international condemnation. Spanish officials called for an arms embargo on Israel, while the head of a U.S.-backed humanitarian foundation resigned, citing a failure to maintain humanitarian neutrality.
Calls for Ceasefire Grow After Deadly Strike on Gaza School Shelter
Monday’s strike on the Gaza City school-turned-shelter led to a tragic loss of life, with 20 confirmed dead and over 60 injured. The building, once a place of learning, had become a refuge for displaced families. The civil defense agency said most of the victims were children, calling it a “massacre.”
The Israeli military claimed it was targeting a Hamas and Islamic Jihad command center embedded within the school. According to the IDF, multiple precautions were taken to minimize civilian casualties. However, the recurring pattern of strikes on civilian structures has fueled growing scrutiny of Israel’s military strategy.
Jake Wood, head of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, resigned just two months into his tenure, citing the inability to uphold humanitarian principles. His departure reflects the mounting frustration within the aid community as they navigate a conflict where neutrality and independence are difficult to maintain.
Global condemnation intensified at a Madrid summit, where Spain’s foreign minister described Gaza as humanity’s “open wound.” European and Arab leaders urged immediate ceasefire measures and called for unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza, bypassing Israeli control to prevent further humanitarian collapse.
As civilian deaths mount and aid remains critically restricted, global calls for accountability and an end to the violence are growing louder, demanding urgent diplomatic action.
“Gaza is humanity’s open wound.” — Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares
