Israeli strike on Gaza school kills at least 20, dozens Injured

An Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza City’s Daraj neighborhood killed at least 20 people and wounded dozens more, local authorities told Reuters early Monday.

Medics reported that the victims included women and children, with some bodies severely burned, according to images circulating on social media. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of those images.

The Israeli military has not yet commented on the incident.

The attack comes as Israel intensifies its military campaign in Gaza, launched in early May with the stated aim of dismantling Hamas’ military and governing infrastructure and securing the release of hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attacks.

Despite rising international pressure and growing concerns over widespread hunger, Israel continues its offensive. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared last week that Israel would maintain control over the entire Gaza Strip.

According to Gaza’s media office, Israel now controls roughly 77% of the enclave through a combination of ground forces, evacuation orders, and sustained bombardments that have forced residents to flee.

The war began after Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking hostages, according to Israeli officials.

Since then, the Israeli offensive has left Gaza in ruins and displaced nearly the entire population of over two million. Gaza health authorities report more than 53,000 Palestinians killed, many of them civilians.