Israeli Airstrikes Claim 24 Lives in Gaza, Including Displaced Families

Two Israeli airstrikes in Gaza resulted in the deaths of 24 Palestinians, including children taking refuge in a school. This incident highlights the escalating violence in the region, underscoring urgent calls for humanitarian aid and ceasefire as casualties continue to rise.

At least 24 Palestinians have lost their lives due to two Israeli airstrikes that occurred overnight, including a devastating strike on a school in central Gaza housing displaced families, according to reports from medics and civil defense officials. The school, identified as Fahmi Al-Jargawi School in Gaza City, was providing shelter to hundreds of individuals who had fled the heavily bombarded northern town of Beit Lahia.

A spokesperson from the Hamas-affiliated Civil Defence agency indicated that 20 bodies, many of them burned beyond recognition, were recovered from the school as flames engulfed two classrooms that had been repurposed for living quarters. Witness Rami Rafiq recalled, "Flames were everywhere... my son fainted when he saw the horrific scene," illustrating the deep trauma inflicted by the attack. Graphic video footage has surfaced online, capturing the chilling aftermath of the strike, showing severe burns on victims, including children, as well as critical injuries among survivors.

Among the deceased was Mohammad Al-Kasih, a prominent Hamas police official, who tragically died alongside his wife and children in the school strike. In a separate earlier attack, an airstrike on a residential home in central Gaza City claimed four more lives, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. These strikes are part of an escalating military campaign that has intensified in northern Gaza over the past week.

On Friday, another Israeli airstrike tragically killed nine of a Palestinian doctor's children in a separate incident, while a recent attack also took the lives of two Red Cross staff members in Khan Younis, further heightening concerns over civilian casualties. The International Committee of the Red Cross expressed alarm over the rising death toll in Gaza and reiterated calls for a ceasefire amid the dire humanitarian situation.

On Sunday, the executive director of a US and Israeli-approved aid organization resigned after acknowledging that proposed aid distribution plans were inconsistent with humanitarian principles. Israel's blockade on Gaza, now in its 11th week, has severely restricted aid access, with the Red Cross reiterating the need for significant aid flows, notably greater than the mere 388 trucks that were reported to have entered the region in the past week.

Meanwhile, a meeting in Madrid saw participation from 20 nations and organizations to discuss efforts towards ending the conflict, with urgent calls for an arms embargo on Israel by Spanish officials if attacks persist. Israel's military operations follow a violent cross-border assault by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in substantial civilian casualties. Since then, Gaza has witnessed a staggering death toll of over 53,939 individuals, including at least 16,500 children, according to local health ministry statistics.