An Israeli airstrike on the Al-Taba'een school-turned-shelter in Gaza City during dawn prayers killed up to 100 people, intensifying international calls for a ceasefire amid conflicting reports about militant activity at the site.

The deadly strike, occurring amid the ongoing Gaza conflict that has claimed nearly 40,000 Palestinian lives, has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian crisis. While the Israeli military justified the action by alleging that the school was a Hamas command center, the high civilian death toll has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed urgent international efforts to broker a ceasefire. The incident highlights the peril faced by displaced Palestinians using schools as shelters, many of which have been targeted or damaged during the conflict.

According to different accounts, the death toll from the airstrike on Al-Taba'een school ranged from 60 to as high as 100 people. The exact number remains unclear due to varying reports and the chaos that ensued immediately after the attack.

The airstrike hit the school during dawn prayers, a time when the building also housed a mosque. This timing contributed to the high number of casualties, as many were gathered in the mosque for prayers. Gaza Civil Defense and Palestinian health officials reported that many of the victims were severely injured, making identification difficult.

The Israeli military stated that the Al-Taba'een school was being used as a Hamas command and control center, which they claimed justified the airstrike. They asserted that extensive measures were taken to minimize civilian harm, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and intelligence information. However, these claims have been met with skepticism and condemnation from various international bodies and nations.

Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the presence of militants at the site. While the Israeli military maintains that it targeted a Hamas facility, Palestinian sources dispute this, arguing that the school was primarily a shelter for civilians seeking refuge from ongoing hostilities.

The airstrike on the school has drawn swift condemnation from multiple countries. Nations including Egypt, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey have criticized the attack, calling for an immediate end to the violence and increased protection for civilians in Gaza.

The incident has heightened international efforts to mediate a ceasefire. Egypt, the United States, and Qatar have scheduled a new round of ceasefire negotiations in response to the escalating violence and the increasing civilian casualties. These talks aim to de-escalate the situation and find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

The broader context of the conflict has seen nearly 40,000 Palestinian deaths since it began on October 7, with the majority of the victims believed to be civilians. The destruction of infrastructure, including shelters like schools, has compounded the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Families displaced by the fighting have found refuge in various schools across Gaza, but these locations have not been immune to attacks.

The Al-Taba'een school incident underscores the severe challenges faced by displaced Palestinians seeking safety in schools, which have repeatedly become targets in the ongoing conflict. Shelters, intended to provide sanctuary, have instead become sites of tragedy, further complicating humanitarian relief efforts in the region.