On September 21, an Israeli airstrike on a former school in Gaza City killed 22 people, including 13 children and six women. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed they were targeting a Hamas “command and control center” embedded within the compound.
However, the school had been closed due to the ongoing war and was being used to house displaced people at the time of the attack. One of the survivors, a young girl named Amal, described witnessing bodies “torn apart” and expressed the fear and uncertainty experienced by children in Gaza, asking, “Where do we go?”
The strike also killed a local Hamas figure, according to sources, although many civilians died as a result. Among the victims were Huda Alhadad’s two children, Muhammad (13) and Hanan (12), who were found under the rubble.
Huda recounted the devastation and panic as her husband screamed for their children. This tragedy is part of a larger pattern, as at least eight additional airstrikes on school buildings sheltering displaced families have occurred in Gaza since September 21.
Israeli Airstrike on Gaza School Kills 22, Including 13 Children Amid Warnings of Civilian Toll
UNICEF has raised alarms about the increasing danger to civilians, stating that over 50% of schools used as shelters in Gaza had been hit in the conflict, causing devastating consequences for children and families.
In each instance, the IDF issued statements claiming that Hamas operatives or facilities were present at the targeted locations, including former schools repurposed as shelters. The accuracy of these claims, however, is frequently questioned by local reports and humanitarian organizations.
The IDF’s public statement on the September 21 strike misidentified the targeted school as Al-Zeitoun C, when, in fact, Al-Falah, a nearby school, was hit. Verification through satellite imagery and interviews confirmed that Al-Zeitoun C had indeed been the actual target. The IDF refused to comment on the error or provide details about the specific individual they were targeting during the attack.
The aftermath of the airstrike was catastrophic, with multiple severe injuries reported, including cases of amputations among children. Dr. Amjad Eliwa, an emergency physician, treated more than 30 victims, mainly women and children, at his hospital. The dead included a pregnant woman, Barah Deraawi, and her two daughters, Israa and Iman, highlighting the tragic toll the conflict continues to take on civilians.
