In a tragic incident on Saturday, an Israeli airstrike struck the Zeitoun School in Gaza City, resulting in the deaths of 22 people, most of whom were women and children seeking shelter at the school. The Israeli military claimed to target the school, which was being used as a shelter, because they believed Hamas militants were using it as a command center. The strike raised concerns as it adds to the growing number of airstrikes on schools across the Gaza Strip, where many Gazans have sought refuge amidst the ongoing conflict.

The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that the majority of the victims were women and children, including a 3-month-old infant. The strike on the Zeitoun School is part of a troubling trend where schools have become regular targets of Israeli airstrikes, despite being places where civilians, particularly women and children, seek safety from the violence engulfing the region. The closure of schools due to the conflict has left thousands displaced, with over 90 percent of Gaza's population being forced to flee multiple times during the 11-month war.

The Israeli military contended that the school compound was being used as a Hamas "command and control center," justifying the targeted strike. The school, connected to the Al Falah School which operates under the UNRWA, had also been previously hit in a separate incident, prompting condemnation from the UN agency. The ongoing violence in Gaza has exacerbated the dire humanitarian situation, with many residents facing starvation and relying on aid to meet basic needs.