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In a recent escalation of Israel’s ongoing conflict with Gaza, an Israeli airstrike hit a school in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, killing at least 30 people, including children, and injuring many others. The school had been sheltering injured and displaced Palestinians amid the violence. The UN’s humanitarian aid agency reports that hundreds of Palestinians remain trapped in eastern Khan Younis due to intense hostilities, with rescue efforts hampered by restricted access imposed by the Israeli military.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the daily volume of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip has dropped by 56 per cent since April. Starvation and disease are becoming increasingly severe as the conflict persists. As of the latest updates, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that at least 39,258 people have been killed and 90,589 injured since the start of the war. This includes the casualties from recent bombings, which are not yet fully reflected in the official death toll.
The armed wing of Hamas, the Qassam Brigades, has claimed responsibility for clashes with Israeli soldiers in Gaza City’s Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood. The group reported using machine guns, hand grenades, and a thermobaric rocket in their attacks, resulting in deaths and injuries among both Israeli troops and their reinforcements.
The conflict has also seen significant casualties from recent attacks. Gaza’s Health Ministry noted that the Israeli bombardment of Khadija School in Deir el-Balah resulted in at least 30 fatalities. Additionally, the Khan Younis governorate has reported 23 more deaths since the morning.
The scale of the violence underscores the escalating nature of the conflict and the dire humanitarian situation facing the people of Gaza. International calls for a ceasefire and increased humanitarian access continue as the war’s toll mounts.