Scores killed in Israeli strikes on two schools in northern Gaza | Israel-Palestine conflict News
Israeli air raids have killed scores of Palestinians on the al-Fakhoora School, run by the United Nations company for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), in the Jabalia refugee camp and one other college in Tal al-Zaatar, additionally in northern Gaza.
At least 50 folks had been killed in the assault on the al-Fakhoora School, the Palestinian Ministry of Health stated on Saturday. It stated the two assaults killed and injured tons of of individuals.
Israeli assaults on schools, hospitals and public services “seem to be a trend right now”, stated Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Multiple airstrikes inflicted extreme destruction on each schools, he added.
“Almost 200 people have been killed in these attacks and the number is expected to increase as there are many under the rubble. People are using shovels and their bare hands to dig people out,” he defined.
Several hundred folks had been believed to have taken shelter at each schools, fleeing the continuous Israeli assaults. The strike on al-Fakhoora is believed to have taken place in the early hours of the morning, whereas the assault on Tal al-Zaatar came about later in the day.
“Dead bodies are everywhere and medial teams are trying to evacuate the wounded,” stated Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abou Azzoum, reporting about al-Fakhoora college.
He stated with the persevering with preventing amid Israel’s floor offensive in northern Gaza, many Palestinians have been compelled to flee to United Nations-run schools in the neighborhood of the Indonesian Hospital for defense.
“People taking shelter at al-Fakhoora School in Jabalia refugee camp, many with medical issues, thought they could find shelter from the violence there. But the Israeli army seems to be sending a message: Flee to the south of the Gaza Strip,” he stated.
Witnesses described the large destruction on the al-Fakhoora School.
“The scenes were horrifying. Corpses of women and children were on the ground. Others were screaming for help,” wounded survivor Ahmed Radwan informed The Associated Press information company by cellphone. Photos from an area hospital confirmed greater than 20 our bodies wrapped in bloodstained sheets.
The Israeli army, which warned Jabalia residents and others in a social media submit in Arabic to go away, stated solely its troops are energetic in the world “with the aim of hitting terrorists”.
Israel not often feedback on particular person strikes saying solely it targets Hamas.
‘Nowhere is safe in Gaza’
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s renewed bombardment of al-Fakhoora School, and referred to as for “an urgent international investigation and independent investigators to probe Israel’s targeting of schools and hospitals in Gaza”.
UN aid chief Martin Griffiths stated: “Shelters are a place for safety. Schools are a place for learning. Tragic news of the children, women and men killed while sheltering at al-Fakhouri school in northern Gaza. Civilians cannot and should not have to bear this any longer.”
Shelters are a spot for security.
Schools are a spot for studying.
Tragic information of the youngsters, ladies and men killed whereas sheltering at Al Fakhouri college in northern Gaza.
Civilians can not and shouldn’t should bear this any longer.
Humanity must prevail.
— Martin Griffiths (@UNReliefChief) November 18, 2023
Tamara Alrifai, a spokesperson for UNRWA, informed Al Jazeera that she had seen seen the “devastating” footage popping out of Jabalia in the aftermath of the bombing, however was unable to ascertain direct contact her colleagues on the bottom.
“I’m still waiting from reports directly from my colleagues in Gaza but what we’re seeing is another one of these horrific incidents, where civilians, people who sought shelter in a protected UN building, are paying the price,” she stated.
Alrifai stated greater than half of the Gaza Strip’s 2.3 million inhabitants has been compelled into an “exodus” south after an Israeli order to evacuate to make room for its floor operations in the north, one thing that’s paying homage to earlier compelled displacements.
“Many people who stayed in the north stayed in the UNRWA school because they thought that they would have a bit of safety there, but nowhere is safe in Gaza, not even our schools,” she stated. “Unfortunately, people flee into our buildings with the blue flag looking for protection, but 70 of our buildings have been hit, so we, ourselves, are not protected.”
Alrifai stated excluding the assault on Saturday, 66 folks have been confirmed killed whereas taking shelter in UN-run services.
The ‘al-Shifa of schools’
The Jabalia refugee camp has been a goal of air raids for weeks, as Israel claims it homes Palestinian fighters.
The lethal bombing marketing campaign has been persevering with regardless of condemnations by the UN and regional governments.
The Israeli military has additionally repeatedly hit schools and UN-run services. Its struggle on Gaza has killed greater than 12,000 Palestinians thus far, together with 5,000 kids.
The al-Fakhoora School had been beforehand attacked by the Israeli military a number of instances earlier than the struggle. It was a goal for air raids in 2009, 2014 and earlier this month.
Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara stated the college is just like the “al-Shifa of schools” in Gaza because it has been repeatedly hit by Israeli forces just like the al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest hospital, which has been a major goal because the begin of the struggle and below direct siege and raid for days.
“There is nothing discriminate about the fact that a school that shelters thousands of people has been bombed from the air; that is meant to create damage, human loss, suffering and death,” he stated.
“When you attack a school with such a concentration of people taking refuge in the school, you are sending a message that is more than ‘I’m going after Hamas fighters here and there.’ What it’s saying is, ‘I want people to be driven out, I want people to pay a price, I want people to die.’”
