The Israeli military has made a rare admission of error after a devastating strike on a UN-run school in Gaza resulted in numerous casualties, marking one of the deadliest incidents in the ongoing conflict.
According to Israeli defence officials, the strike on the school compound in the Nuseirat refugee camp was based on "precise intelligence" suggesting Hamas operatives were using the facility. However, they later acknowledged that a "mistake" may have occurred in the targeting process.
Growing International Outcry
The incident has sparked widespread international condemnation, with UN officials and humanitarian organisations expressing outrage at the targeting of civilian infrastructure. Emergency services in Gaza reported scenes of chaos as rescue workers struggled to extract casualties from the rubble.
"The sheer scale of this tragedy is unimaginable," stated a UN representative. "Schools should be places of safety, not scenes of devastation."
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The strike comes amid a worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, where:
- Medical facilities are operating at limited capacity
- Essential supplies are running critically low
- Civilian displacement continues to rise dramatically
International aid organisations have renewed calls for immediate humanitarian corridors to allow essential medical supplies and food to reach affected populations.
Diplomatic Fallout
The incident has complicated ongoing ceasefire negotiations, with Palestinian representatives demanding stronger international intervention to protect civilians. Meanwhile, Israeli officials maintain they are taking "unprecedented measures" to avoid civilian casualties while targeting Hamas infrastructure.
As the death toll continues to rise, pressure mounts on the international community to broker an immediate cessation of hostilities and address the growing humanitarian catastrophe in the region.
