Israeli strike on Gaza school that killed 22 targeted one Hamas figure, BBC told

A tragic incident occurred in Gaza when an Israeli air strike targeted a school, resulting in the deaths of many individuals, including children. The air strike was aimed at a member of Hamas, a group involved in the ongoing conflict. The Israeli Defense Forces, known as the IDF, stated that they were targeting a 'command and control center' belonging to Hamas that was located within the school compound in Gaza City. This precise strike took place on September 21 and led to the loss of 22 lives, among which were 13 children and six women, according to reports from the Hamas-run health ministry. The school, which had been closed due to the war, was being used as a shelter for displaced individuals. A young girl named Amal was present in the school during the attack and recounted her horrifying experience, stating that she witnessed bodies 'torn apart. ' She expressed her fear and confusion, saying, 'What have we done as children? We wake up and go to sleep terrified. ' Amal's plea for the protection of schools highlights the dire situation faced by children in conflict zones, as she lamented, 'At least protect the schools; we don’t have schools or homes - where do we go? ' This incident underscores the tragic reality that many innocent lives were lost due to the targeting of a single individual. Huda, a grieving mother, lost two of her children in the air strike. She shared her heartbreaking story, recalling, 'I was coming from the hallway when the missile fell. I came and found my husband screaming, saying, 'My children, my children, my children. ' I asked him, 'Where are they? ' I searched for them and found them under the rubble. ' This illustrates the immense pain and suffering that families endure in Gaza. Following the air strike, there were at least eight additional strikes on school buildings that were also serving as shelters for families. UNICEF reported that over 50% of schools used as shelters in Gaza had been directly hit during the ongoing conflict, leading to devastating consequences for children and families. In each of the recent strikes, the IDF released public statements claiming that the targeted schools contained Hamas members or 'command and control' centers. However, in their public statement regarding the September 21 strike, the IDF mistakenly identified the school they hit as Al-Zeitoun C, when it was actually another school nearby called Al-Falah. Local residents confirmed that Al-Zeitoun C was indeed the school that was struck, and the Hamas-run authorities also identified it as such. The area in question is located in the Al-Zeitoun neighborhood and includes four distinct schools: Al-Falah, Al-Zeitoun A, B, and C. When questioned about the incorrect naming of the school, the IDF declined to comment. The Hamas-run government media office condemned the Israeli military's actions, labeling the air strike a 'horrific massacre' for targeting a school that was sheltering displaced individuals. They reported that, in addition to those who lost their lives, many others sustained severe injuries, including nine children who required amputations. Dr. Amjad Eliwa, an emergency physician who treated the injured, described the overwhelming number of cases reaching his hospital, stating that most of the injuries were among children and women, with many suffering from severe wounds and amputations. He recounted the tragic case of a woman who was six months pregnant and died in the strike, a fact corroborated by images of a foetus found at the site. Residents identified the deceased woman as Barah Deraawi, who tragically lost her life along with her two young daughters, Israa and Iman. This heartbreaking event serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing suffering and loss of life in Gaza, particularly among children and families caught in the crossfire of the conflict.