More than 45 people were killed in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip on Monday, including 33 in a school-turned-shelter that was struck as people slept, igniting their belongings, according to local health officials.
The Israeli army has said that the building sheltered “leading terrorists” and served as a “command center” for Hamas.
The head of the ministry’s emergency service in Gaza said that the building was hit thrice and caught fire while people were still asleep. Online footage shows rescuers struggling to put out the fire and recover charred remains.
This attack comes amidst Israel’s renewed aggressive offensive in the Strip, aiming at the complete “defeat of Hamas” as ceasefire initiatives fell off.
This has widely drawn criticism from leaders across the world, with the EU considering measures if Israel does not end the Gaza blockade. Israel’s blockade of aid entry into Gaza has led to a lack of access to basic resources like food and medicines, including clean water.
A humanitarian crisis
The Spanish foreign ministry has urged the imposition of sanctions against those “who want to ruin the two-state solution forever”.
Reports of Israeli strikes killing the residents of Gaza emerged from across the territory over the weekend. According to the Civil defence agency spokesman, Mahmud Bassal, 7 people were killed in Jabalia in the north, while two more were killed in strikes targeting tents in Central Gaza. One of the deceased was a seven-month pregnant woman.
Areas like Deir el-Balah, Beit Lahia, and Khan Yunis also recorded fatal strikes.
Lack of aid entry into the besieged Gaza Strip has created a humanitarian crisis at unprecedented levels.
COGAT, which is in charge of civilian affairs under the defence ministry in Israel, said that around 107 trucks containing humanitarian aid were transferred to Gaza. The World Food Programme stresses that this is not nearly enough, as aid trucks mostly end up being looted.
The US-backed group, which was set to move aid into the Gaza Strip, has also resigned. The director of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), Jake Wood, said that he felt compelled to resign as the mission could not adhere to “humanitarian principles.”
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