Gaza Strip : Israel’s Bombing of UNRWA School Leaves at Least 20 Casualties

Palestinians inspect the site after an Israeli airstrike hit a UNRWA-run school sheltering displaced people, Dec 15, 2024 Photo: EFE

December 15, 2024 Hour: 5:39 pm

Shortly after the attack on Khan Younis, Hamas issued a statement indicating that the total number of deaths in Gaza on that day exceeded 100.

At least 20 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed in a recent Israeli bombing of the Ahmed Abdel Aziz school in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. This educational center, which belongs to the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), was functioning as a shelter for people displaced due to intense fighting in the region.

The airstrike was carried out near the Nasser Medical Center and was reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa. The enclave’s Civil Defense confirmed that the attack occurred during the night and that the recovery of bodies from the rubble had already begun.

Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos and despair following the bombing, with men and women attempting to enter while flames still consumed the area.

#BREAKING | 19 were martyred and dozens were injured in the deliberate Israeli targeting of Sheikh Jamil School, sheltering displaced people, in the vicinity of Nasser Hospital, west of Khan Younis, in the southern #Gaza Strip.#AlMayadeen's correspondent also reported that the… pic.twitter.com/QlUwJFd9ta
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) December 15, 2024

Shortly after the attack on Khan Younis, Hamas issued a statement indicating that the total number of deaths in Gaza on that day exceeded 100.

This bombing is in addition to a series of recent attacks on Gaza, which have intensified tensions and human suffering in a territory already marked by years of conflict. The day began with a similar attack in northern Gaza, where Israeli planes bombed another school, causing multiple deaths.

Although 15 casualties were initially reported, the Hamas administration claimed that the number was 43. These attacks have led to a massive exodus of Palestinians seeking refuge in areas considered safer.

Since the beginning of the conflict more than 14 months ago, it is estimated that approximately 44,976 people have been killed in Gaza due to the Israeli offensive, with an alarming 70% of victims being women and children.

These figures are corroborated by both local authorities and international agencies such as the UN.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is critical. More than 106,759 people have been injured, and conditions for survivors are increasingly difficult due to a lack of medical resources and food.