13 Killed in Israeli Strike on Gaza School: ‘They Thought They Were Safe’

Two Israeli airstrikes hit the Karama School in Tuffah, a suburb of Gaza City, on Wednesday. The school, run by the UN’s UNRWA agency, was sheltering many families who had fled from other conflict zones. According to local health officials, 13 people were killed, including journalist Nour Abdu.

“The school was crowded with women and children. They thought they were safe here,” a local medic said.

Widening Offensive Across Gaza

The attack followed another strike on a school in central Gaza the day before, which killed at least 29 people. The Israeli military said it was targeting “terrorists” operating in the school compound.

In Rafah, Israeli forces continue advancing. According to local sources, residential buildings are being demolished, and the area is being cleared to create “security zones.” Roughly a third of Gaza is now under Israeli control.

Journalists and Civilians in the Crossfire

According to Hamas’s media office, Nour Abdu is the 213th journalist killed since the war began on October 7, 2023. More than 52,000 Palestinians have died, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health authorities.

The conflict started when Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has announced an “intensive” new phase of the offensive, possibly leading to a full takeover of Gaza.

Nowhere Safe Anymore

The repeated strikes on schools and residential areas have deepened the humanitarian crisis. UN facilities once seen as safe havens are now also being targeted. The quagmire of war is spreading, and nowhere seems safe.

As one local resident put it: “We have nowhere to go. Even schools are no longer sacred.”

Word from the 1000-word list: Quagmire

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