Israeli strike on school reported by Palestinians; Blinken to meet Arab leaders.
GAZA/AMMAN—Palestinians have reported a devastating Israeli strike on a Gaza City school that was being used as a shelter. This tragic incident occurred just as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was preparing to meet with Arab leaders in Jordan to discuss the urgent need for a ceasefire.
According to witnesses, the strike targeted Al-Fakhoura school in Jabalia, where thousands of evacuees had sought refuge. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people and left dozens more injured. Juliette Touma, the director of communication for the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), confirmed that the school had indeed been hit, and expressed concern for the children affected.
Heartbreaking images captured by Reuters showed the aftermath of the strike, with broken furniture, bloodstains, and grieving individuals. One man, captured in video footage, described how people were preparing breakfast when the bombing suddenly began.
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“I found my two girls, one of them was martyred and her head was hit, the second was wounded in her leg … the other girl as well was wounded with shrapnel,” a grieving father shared.
The ministry of health in Gaza also reported that two women were killed by another Israeli missile strike at the entrance of the Nasser Children Hospital.
Israel’s military has not yet commented on these incidents.
Since the terrorist group Hamas launched an assault in southern Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,400 people and the hostage-taking of over 240 individuals, Israel has intensified its bombing campaign in an effort to eradicate Hamas. As a result, Gaza health officials have reported that over 9,488 Palestinians have been killed.
Last month, Israel ordered all civilians to evacuate the northern part of the Gaza Strip, including Gaza City, due to the presence of Hamas terrorists in tunnels. However, many people have chosen to stay in the north, feeling trapped.
In an attempt to facilitate movement, the Israeli military announced that Palestinians would be allowed to travel on the Salah a-Din road, a main highway in the Gaza Strip, for a limited time on Saturday.
U.S. Special Envoy David Satterfield revealed that between 800,000 to a million people have already relocated to the south of the Gaza Strip, while 350,000–400,000 individuals remain in northern Gaza City and its surroundings.
Meanwhile, Palestinians continue to search for survivors in the rubble left by an Israeli airstrike in the southern city of Khan Younis.
“We are steadfast in Gaza, even if only one citizen is left, from there the state will start again,” said 65-year-old Palestinian Harb Al-Barqy.
Blinken Hears Ceasefire Demands
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati emphasized the urgency of a ceasefire in Gaza during his meeting with Mr. Blinken in Amman on Saturday.
Mr. Blinken, in response, highlighted his efforts to halt military operations for humanitarian reasons and to address the issue of prisoners.
Israel’s military stated that it was targeting “a number of Hezbollah terror targets in Lebanon” in response to fire from that region, marking the most significant escalation since 2006.
Arab leaders, including those from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, are scheduled to meet with Mr. Blinken in Amman. They will emphasize the urgent need for a ceasefire, the delivery of humanitarian aid, and finding a solution to the escalating crisis.
Washington has provided unwavering military and political support to Israel, while also urging its ally to take measures to minimize civilian casualties and address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Ambulance Hit
Gaza health officials reported that an Israeli airstrike on Friday evening targeted an ambulance as part of a convoy transporting injured Palestinians to al-Shifa, Gaza’s largest hospital.
Israel’s military claimed that the ambulance was being used by a Hamas terrorist cell and that several Hamas fighters were killed. The Palestinian health ministry challenged Israel to provide evidence supporting this claim. Israel stated its intention to release additional information, as it accuses Hamas of using al-Shifa for military purposes, a claim denied by both Hamas and the hospital.
Gaza’s already dire living conditions have further deteriorated due to the ongoing conflict. Food scarcity, drinking salty water, and collapsing medical services have become the norm.
Israel’s military recently conducted a “pinpoint raid” in the southern Gaza Strip to map out buildings and neutralize explosives. This operation is part of the wider ground offensive that began a week ago.
Israel Says No Pause Unless Hostages Are Freed
Hamas official Izzat El Reshiq called on Arab leaders and people to exert pressure on Israel and the United States by severing diplomatic ties, expelling ambassadors, and leveraging oil and economic interests to support the people of Gaza.
During his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr. Blinken proposed a humanitarian pause in the fighting to facilitate the release of hostages and the delivery of aid to Gaza. However, Mr. Netanyahu rejected the idea unless the hostages were freed.
How has the international community responded to the tragic incident and ongoing conflict in Gaza?
Arian crisis. However, the devastating Israeli strike on a Gaza City school highlights the urgent need for a ceasefire and immediate action to protect innocent lives.
The Al-Fakhoura school in Jabalia, Gaza, which had been providing shelter to thousands of evacuees, was targeted in the Israeli strike. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people and left dozens more injured. This tragic incident has drawn international attention and condemnation.
Juliette Touma, the director of communication for the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), confirmed that the school had indeed been hit, expressing deep concern for the children affected by this senseless act of violence. Heartbreaking images captured by Reuters showed the aftermath of the strike, with broken furniture, bloodstains, and grieving individuals.
Witnesses have shared their accounts of the attack. One man, captured in video footage, described how people were preparing breakfast when the bombing suddenly began. Another grieving father shared the pain of losing one daughter and having his other daughter and his wife injured in the attack. The ministry of health in Gaza also reported that two women were killed by another Israeli missile strike at the entrance of the Nasser Children Hospital.
Israel’s military has not yet commented on these incidents. However, the ongoing conflict between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas has escalated in recent weeks. Since Hamas launched an assault in southern Israel on October 7, resulting in numerous casualties and hostage-taking, Israel has intensified its bombing campaign in an effort to eliminate Hamas. Unfortunately, this campaign has resulted in a high number of Palestinian casualties.
Israel had previously ordered civilians to evacuate the northern part of the Gaza Strip, including Gaza City, due to the presence of Hamas terrorists in tunnels. While some people complied with the evacuation order, many remained in the north, feeling trapped. In an attempt to facilitate movement, the Israeli military announced that Palestinians would be allowed to travel on the Salah a-Din road, a main highway in the Gaza Strip, for a limited time. However, the conflict continues to take a toll on innocent lives.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was preparing to
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