A deadly Israeli airstrike early Monday targeted a school in the Jabaliya area of northern Gaza that was serving as a shelter, killing at least 16 civilians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Among the dead were at least five children and four women, while several others were reported injured. The school, like many others in the Gaza Strip, had been converted into a makeshift refuge for displaced families fleeing intense fighting in the area. The Gaza Health Ministry described the scene as devastating, with emergency crews pulling bodies from the rubble under difficult conditions.

The Israeli military claimed it was targeting militants embedded in civilian infrastructure and accused Hamas of endangering lives by operating in densely populated neighborhoods. However, it did not directly address the specific incident at the school in its initial statement. The military reiterated that its operations were precise and intended to dismantle terrorist infrastructure, while blaming Hamas for positioning weapons and fighters in schools and residential zones. Critics, however, argue that such attacks show a growing disregard for the safety of civilians amid escalating hostilities.

This strike comes amid worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, as Israel continues its 10-week blockade that has severely restricted the flow of food, medicine, and other essential supplies. The latest escalation follows the breakdown of a temporary ceasefire two months ago, which had offered a brief period of respite. As U.S. President Donald Trump prepares for diplomatic visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE this week, international pressure is mounting for a renewed truce and urgent humanitarian intervention to prevent further civilian casualties in the war-torn enclave.