Israeli Airstrike on Gaza City School Shelter Kills 10, Including Child, Amid Ongoing Conflict

An Israeli airstrike on the Yafa School in eastern Gaza City early Wednesday killed at least 10 people, including a child. The school, repurposed as a shelter for displaced civilians, caught fire during the attack. Emergency responders from the Palestinian Civil Defence recovered the bodies from the site. The Israeli military has not commented on the strike, which is part of ongoing operations in Gaza. The conflict, which began in October 2023, has resulted in significant civilian casualties and infrastructure damage across the region.

School Shelter Targeted in Pre-Dawn Strike

The Yafa School, located in eastern Gaza City, had been serving as a refuge for families displaced by months of intense Israeli military operations. According to the Palestinian Civil Defence, the airstrike occurred in the early hours of April 23, sparking a fire that rapidly consumed the tented shelters erected within the school compound. Emergency workers reported recovering 10 bodies from the scene, with several others injured in the blaze.

Among the dead was a child who reportedly burned to death, highlighting the vulnerability of civilians—particularly children—sheltering in what were presumed to be safe zones. Social media footage verified by local news outlets showed the aftermath of the strike: melted canvas, charred furniture, and the skeletal remains of what appeared to be a bed frame.

Civilian Infrastructure Under Fire

The Israeli military has not issued an immediate comment on the specific strike on the Yafa School. However, it has consistently maintained that Hamas uses civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, to conceal military operations and weapons. This claim has been used to justify strikes on locations that would otherwise be protected under international humanitarian law.

The attack on the school is part of a broader pattern of strikes across Gaza in recent days. On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 17 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in separate incidents across the enclave. In Khan Younis, a multistory home was destroyed, killing nine people, including four children and four women. Additional strikes in Jabaliya and Nuseirat also resulted in civilian casualties, including entire families.

Humanitarian Toll Mounts

The ongoing Israeli offensive, which began in October 2023 following a deadly Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, has devastated the Gaza Strip. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 51,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the conflict, with the majority being women and children. Israel claims it has killed approximately 20,000 Hamas fighters, though it has not provided evidence to support this figure.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated sharply. Nearly the entire population has been displaced, and essential infrastructure—including hospitals, water systems, and power generators—has been repeatedly targeted or rendered inoperable. The destruction of heavy equipment, such as bulldozers and water tankers provided by international mediators and aid groups, has further hampered rescue and recovery efforts.

Repeated Strikes on Civilian Shelters

The strike on the Yafa School is not an isolated incident. Israeli forces have previously targeted other civilian shelters, including churches and hospitals. On the same day as the school attack, an Israeli airstrike hit the El Dorra Pediatric Hospital in Gaza City, prompting health officials to suspend a UN-backed polio vaccination campaign due to safety concerns.

In southern Gaza, a separate drone strike targeted tent shelters in the al-Mawasi area—designated by Israel as a “safe zone”—killing at least one person and injuring several others. These repeated attacks on locations housing displaced civilians have raised alarm among humanitarian organizations and international observers.

Eyewitness Accounts and Local Reactions

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and horror following the school strike. “They were asleep, sleeping in God’s peace. They had nothing to do with anything,” said Awad Dahliz, the grandfather of a slain child in a separate strike in Khan Younis. “What is the fault of this innocent child?”

Local officials and emergency responders have struggled to cope with the scale of destruction. The Jabaliya al-Nazla municipality reported that essential equipment used to clear rubble and pump sewage was destroyed in recent strikes, further complicating efforts to maintain basic sanitation and rescue trapped civilians.

Broader Context of the Conflict

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a full-scale military campaign against Gaza, which has continued for over 18 months with intermittent ceasefires and prisoner exchanges.

Despite international calls for restraint and the protection of civilians, the conflict has escalated in recent weeks. On March 18, Israel resumed large-scale attacks, killing over 400 people in a single day. The future governance of Gaza remains uncertain, with various international actors proposing competing plans for post-war administration.

References

• Child among at least 10 killed in Israeli attack on school shelter in Gaza
• Israel bombs Gaza school-turned-shelter, sparking fire and killing 10
• Israeli strikes kill 14 in Gaza and destroy heavy equipment needed to clear rubble
• One killed, 5 wounded in Israeli drone attack on Gaza's Al Mawasi