The Mustafa Hafez School in western Gaza City, which serves as a temporary shelter for displaced Palestinians, was attacked by Israel early on Thursday. The building fell into smouldering ruins, killing at least 12 persons and injuring many more. Heartbreaking destruction is seen in the aftermath, with blood-stained carpets, clothes all over the place, chairs that have fallen over, food tins, and broken household objects all over the place.
Children Among the Victims, Families in Shock
Residents, including terrified children wandering through the charred shell of their once-safe refuge, described the scene as surreal and unbearable. “This is not life,” complained Umm Yassin Abu Awda, a local mother. Either you strike us with a nuclear bomb and end it all, or people’s conscience needs to finally wake up.”
Targeted Military Justification
The Israeli military confirmed the strike targeted a “key Hamas terrorist” allegedly operating within the school compound. They claimed that measures were taken beforehand to minimize civilian harm. However, the high civilian toll—including families and children—calls into question the effectiveness and morality of such “precision” strikes.
Greater Distribution of Attacked Shelters
This tragedy highlights a distressing trend: schools used as shelters have increasingly become targets. Previous incidents—like strikes on shelters in Nuseirat, Khan Younis, and Deir Al‑Balah—have resulted in dozens of civilian deaths and drawn global outcry. The repeated destruction of designated civilian safe zones underscores the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
