In the early hours of May 26, 2025, an Israeli airstrike targeted the Fahmi al-Jarjawi School in Gaza City, which had been serving as a shelter for displaced families. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 36 individuals, including numerous women and children, according to local health officials .
The Israeli military claimed the school was being used as a base by militants preparing attacks, and stated that the strike was aimed to negate a threat. However, the civilian death toll has received widespread condemnation and raised legitimate concerns about the proportionality of the response and the protection of non-combatants in the context of war.
Witnesses described scenes of destruction, with the school building being struck 3 times and many people sleeping inside. Some personal items became ignited , and the fires contributed to the fatalities . Rescuers and medical personnel faced great difficulty in treating the injured and in retrieving bodies from the pile of debris.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of attacks on civilian infrastructure in Gaza. Since the resumption of hostilities in March, following the breakdown of a ceasefire, Israeli forces have conducted numerous airstrikes across the region, aiming to dismantle Hamas and recover hostages taken during the group’s October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel . The ongoing conflict has resulted in the displacement of approximately 90% of Gaza’s population and caused extensive damage to homes, schools, and healthcare facilities.
The global community has voiced serious concerns about the growing humanitarian crisis. Military operations in populated areas attracted criticism from the United Nations and relief agencies and calls to action to protect civilians immediately. The newly formed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to coordinate relief efforts faced criticism from multiple fronts including the resignation of its executive director who cited unworkable conditions and independence as concerns.
As the death toll continues to rise, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting approximately 54,000 Palestinians killed since the onset of the conflict, half of them women and children, the urgency for a renewed commitment to international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians becomes ever more apparent .
The tragedy at the Fahmi al-Jarjawi School underscores the devastating impact of the conflict on innocent lives and the pressing need for a comprehensive and lasting resolution to the hostilities.
