In a tragic development overnight, at least 24 Palestinians have lost their lives due to two Israeli air strikes across Gaza, as reported by local medics and civil defense officials. One of the most devastating attacks targeted the Fahmi Al-Jargawi School, situated in Gaza City, where hundreds of displaced families had sought refuge amid the ongoing hostilities. This school, serving as a sanctuary for those fleeing the northern town of Beit Lahia, has become a focal point of the intensified Israeli military campaign in the region.

According to a spokesperson from Gaza's Hamas-run Civil Defense agency, the attack on the school resulted in the recovery of 20 bodies, many of which belonged to children. Eyewitness accounts describe the aftermath of the strike as horrific, with survivors recounting scenes of devastation. "Flames were everywhere. I saw charred bodies lying on the ground," shared Rami Rafiq, a nearby resident who witnessed the tragic events unfold. He recounted the trauma of his young son, who fainted at the sight of the devastation and the loss of life.

The destruction was further substantiated by video footage circulating on social media, displaying raging fires consuming parts of the school and graphic images depicting severely burned victims, including children, alongside others suffering from critical injuries. Among the deceased was Mohammad Al-Kasih, who held the position of head of investigations for the Hamas police in the northern Gaza region. Notably, he was killed alongside his wife and children, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of this conflict.

In addition to the school assault, a prior air strike claimed the lives of four individuals in a residential area of central Gaza City, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry. Together, these assaults form part of a larger Israeli military offensive that has significantly escalated in the northern enclave throughout the past week.

In a particularly heartbreaking incident on Friday, an Israeli air strike targeted the residence of Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, a Palestinian physician, resulting in the deaths of nine of her ten children. Dr. Al-Najjar’s surviving son, aged 11, was injured along with her husband, Hamdi al-Najjar, who is currently in critical condition. The children, ranging from just a few months to 12 years old, were named Yahya, Rakan, Raslan, Gebran, Eve, Rival, Sayden, Luqman, and Sidra, all of whom are now mourned by their grieving mother.

The Israeli military has stated that the incident involving Dr. al-Najjar's home is currently under review, indicating an acknowledgment of the tragic loss of life. Furthermore, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that two of its staff members were killed in a separate strike on their home in Khan Younis. The deaths of Ibrahim Eid, a weapon contamination officer, and Ahmad Abu Hilal, a security guard at the Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah, highlight the alarming civilian death toll in Gaza. The ICRC has reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire, as the humanitarian crisis intensifies amidst ongoing military operations.