An Israeli air strike on the al-Sardi school, a UN-run facility in the Nuseirat refugee camp, has killed at least 35 to 40 people, according to local health officials and UNRWA. The school was housing hundreds of displaced Palestinians who had fled fighting in other parts of the territory. Witnesses described a scene of devastation in the early hours of Thursday, with missiles reportedly hitting classrooms on the upper floors.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strike, stating it targeted a Hamas compound embedded within the school. Military officials claimed that between 20 and 30 fighters from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad were using the location to plan attacks and had been involved in the October 7 assault on Israel. The IDF maintained that the strike was “precise” and that measures were taken to minimize civilian harm, including calling off the attack twice previously to protect non-combatants.
However, the director of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, called the incident “horrific” and stated that the school was hit without warning while 6,000 people were sheltering there. While he noted that claims of armed groups inside were “shocking,” he added that the UN could not verify them and stressed that UN premises must be protected under international law. Gaza’s health ministry reported that the dead included 14 children and nine women, while hospital officials at al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital struggled to manage the surge of casualties.
This incident occurs amid intensified Israeli ground operations in central Gaza and renewed international pressure for a ceasefire. A joint statement from the U.S., UK, and 16 other nations has urged both Israel and Hamas to finalize a deal to end the hostilities and release hostages. Despite these diplomatic efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his commitment to “total victory,” while Hamas leaders insist any agreement must include a permanent end to the war.
