Displaced families caught in deadly overnight attacks as humanitarian crisis worsens
GAZA CITY, May 26 — At least 24 Palestinians were killed overnight in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, including a strike that hit a school sheltering displaced families, according to Gaza health officials and medics.
The deadliest strike targeted the Fahmi Al-Jargawi School in Gaza City, where dozens of people were taking refuge after fleeing northern areas under heavy bombardment. The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency said 20 bodies were recovered from the school, many of them children who were burned when fire engulfed classrooms used as sleeping quarters.
What Happened in Gaza Overnight
The overnight attacks struck two locations in Gaza. In the first, four people were killed when an airstrike hit a residential building in central Gaza City. Later, the strike on the school caused far more casualties.
Local resident Rami Rafiq, who lives across from the school, described a chaotic scene. “Flames were everywhere. I saw charred bodies lying on the ground,” he told BBC. “My son fainted when he saw the horrific scene.”
Images and videos circulating online showed the school ablaze, with injured survivors being carried away from scorched classrooms.
Airstrike on School Leaves Dozens Dead
Officials say the school had been housing hundreds of people displaced by fighting in Beit Lahia and other northern areas. Among those killed was Mohammad Al-Kasih, a Hamas police investigations chief, along with his wife and children.
The Israeli military has not yet issued a statement on the incident. A military spokesperson confirmed that operations are ongoing in northern Gaza.
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Mounting Civilian Toll Raises Alarm
The school strike follows other recent deadly incidents. On Friday, an airstrike in Gaza killed nine children from one family. The children’s mother, Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, and her husband were also wounded. The father remains in critical condition.
In a separate incident, the International Committee of the Red Cross said two of its staff members were killed in a strike in Khan Younis. The victims were identified as Ibrahim Eid and Ahmad Abu Hilal, both working with the Red Cross field operations.
The ICRC said the deaths reflect the “intolerable toll on civilians” and reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire.
Aid Blockade and Humanitarian Crisis Deepen
Gaza continues to face severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. Israel imposed a full blockade on the territory in March, only partially easing restrictions after 11 weeks of growing international pressure.
According to the Israeli military coordination office (COGAT), 388 aid trucks entered Gaza last week. The United Nations says that number falls far short of the 500 to 600 trucks needed daily to meet basic humanitarian needs.
Over the weekend, Jake Wood, director of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, resigned from his post, citing concerns that private-sector-led aid delivery efforts were failing to meet humanitarian standards of neutrality and independence.
International Reactions and Ceasefire Push
On Sunday, 20 countries and organizations met in Madrid to discuss diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. Spain’s Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, called for an arms embargo on Israel if it continues targeting civilian infrastructure.
Since Israel launched its military campaign following Hamas’s October 7 cross-border attack, over 53,900 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the local health ministry. That includes more than 16,500 children. The October 7 attack by Hamas left 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage, Israeli officials say.
What Comes Next for Gaza and the Region
Despite growing calls for a ceasefire, fighting continues with no clear diplomatic breakthrough. The Israeli military says its operations are focused on dismantling Hamas’s capabilities, but residents and aid groups warn that the humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating.
“We no longer know where safety is,” said Lina Hassan, an aid worker in central Gaza. “Hospitals are full. Schools are burning. Even shelters are being hit.”
