Gaza City, July 8, 2024 — At least 52 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Monday, with 36 fatalities reported at a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City’s Daraj neighborhood, according to local health officials. The strike ignited fires and left dozens wounded, as rescuers scrambled to recover charred remains from the rubble.
Details of the Strike
The attack occurred overnight while displaced families slept inside the Faami
Aljerjawi School, which had been housing civilians fleeing Israel’s ongoing
military campaign. Fahmy Awad, head of Gaza’s Emergency Service, stated the
site was hit three times, destroying belongings and trapping victims under
debris. Video footage shared online showed emergency crews battling flames and
evacuating casualties to nearby Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals.
Israel’s Justification
The Israeli military confirmed targeting the school, alleging it housed a Hamas
and Islamic Jihad command center used to coordinate attacks. In a statement,
officials claimed “key terrorists” were operating there, accusing militant
groups of embedding infrastructure in civilian areas. Israel has repeatedly
blamed Hamas for civilian casualties, asserting the group uses residential
zones as shields.
Escalated Offensive and Humanitarian Crisis
Over the past 48 hours, Israel has conducted more than 200 strikes in Gaza,
intensifying its campaign launched after a ceasefire collapsed in March. The
war, triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and
saw 251 hostages taken, has displaced 90% of Gaza’s population and destroyed
critical infrastructure.
While Israel recently allowed limited aid into Gaza after a
10-week blockade, humanitarian groups warn of famine, citing insufficient
supplies. A U.S.-backed aid initiative, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF),
faced setbacks after its director, Jake Wood, resigned, citing compromised
neutrality. The GHF aims to distribute 300 million meals but faces skepticism
over its reliance on private security and Israeli oversight.
Casualty Figures and International Response
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 54,000 Palestinian deaths since the war
began, including a majority of women and children, though it does not
distinguish between civilians and combatants. Meanwhile, 116 hostages remain in
Gaza, with 43 presumed alive.
Israel’s proposed post-war plan, including a full takeover
of Gaza and “voluntary migration” of Palestinians, has drawn condemnation
globally. The UN and aid agencies continue urging a ceasefire, while Israel
vows to dismantle Hamas and secure hostage returns.
PulseNext will continue monitoring developments.
— Reported with inputs from AP, AFP, and Times of Israel
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