By G. Mudalige, Jadetimes Staff
G. Mudalige is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Technology & Innovation
In the latest escalation of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, 26 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting a mosque and a school in the central region of Gaza, according to the Gaza health ministry, which is overseen by Hamas. The strikes, which took place early Sunday morning, hit the Al-Aqsa Martyrs mosque and Ibn Rushd school, where displaced Palestinians were sheltering. These locations are situated in Deir al-Balah, an area that has been a focal point of Israeli military operations.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the airstrikes were aimed at what they identified as Hamas militants operating within "command and control" centers located at these civilian structures. Despite this, the attacks resulted in a significant number of civilian casualties, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting dozens of injured people in addition to the fatalities.
According to reports from the Hamas-run civil defense agency, 21 people were killed in the mosque strike alone, while Reuters reported that 93 people were injured in the attacks. The school and mosque, both situated within a humanitarian zone, were significantly damaged, and footage from the scenes verified by the BBC shows blood-stained rubble and bodies amid the destruction. In one video, emergency responders are seen pulling a man out on a stretcher from the burning wreckage of the school. This attack comes as Israeli forces continue their broader military operations in Gaza. In northern Gaza, the IDF has surrounded the Jabalia area, which it claims Hamas is attempting to rebuild for future operations. The military also expanded evacuation routes to a humanitarian zone in southern Gaza, although the zone is smaller than it was earlier this year.
The Israeli military defended its actions, claiming it had taken steps to minimize civilian harm, including the use of precision weaponry, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence measures. In a statement, the IDF accused Hamas of using civilian sites such as schools and mosques as "human shields" for their operations, a tactic that has been repeatedly condemned by Israel. The IDF maintains that the strikes were part of an effort to dismantle Hamas' military infrastructure, which it alleges is embedded within civilian areas. Later in the day, the IDF carried out an additional airstrike on another school in northern Gaza, once again accusing Hamas of using the location as a "command and control complex." Hamas has denied these allegations, insisting that civilian infrastructure is not used for military purposes.
The airstrikes on Sunday came nearly a year after the October 7, 2023, assault by Hamas on Israeli territory, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed, and 251 others were taken hostage. The attack triggered a severe military response from Israel, leading to what has now become a protracted conflict with Gaza. Since the start of the Gaza war, the death toll has been staggering. According to the Gaza health ministry, over 41,870 Palestinians have been killed and more than 97,000 injured. However, these figures do not differentiate between civilians and fighters, a point of contention in the ongoing debate over civilian casualties in the conflict. International organizations, including the United Nations, have raised concerns about the growing death toll in Gaza. According to the UN, 187 people were killed in Gaza between September 30 and October 4, based on data from the Gaza health ministry. Despite Israel's efforts to create humanitarian corridors and zones, strikes on civilian locations such as mosques and schools continue to draw widespread criticism.
As the conflict drags on, both sides remain entrenched in their positions, with little sign of de-escalation. The IDF has warned that northern Gaza remains a high-risk combat zone, and it continues to urge residents to evacuate where possible. However, with displacement camps and shelters now being hit by airstrikes, the question of civilian safety remains a pressing issue in the ongoing war. The death of 26 civilians in Gaza following Israeli airstrikes on a mosque and school highlights the devastating human toll of the conflict. While Israel maintains that Hamas is using civilian infrastructure for military operations, the resulting casualties fuel ongoing international debates about the proportionality and ethics of such strikes. As the conflict continues, the prospects for a peaceful resolution appear increasingly distant, with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepening by the day.
