Gaza: An Israeli airstrike on April 3, 2025, hit the Dar al-Arqam school in Gaza City’s Tuffah district, killing at least 27 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The school was serving as a shelter for displaced families, and many of the casualties included women and children.
The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas command and control center in the area but did not confirm striking a school. The Gaza Civil Defence reported dozens more were wounded and several family members, including a pregnant woman and children, remain missing.
Graphic footage showed injured children rushed to al-Ahli hospital, while Civil Defence video revealed bodies pulled from rubble. Israel claims it took steps to minimize civilian harm and insists its target was being used by Hamas for military planning.
The strike came amid an expanded Israeli ground offensive across Gaza, with evacuation orders forcing thousands to flee. Over 1,160 Palestinians have been killed since March 18 alone, with the UN reporting more than 300 of them were children.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military aims to pressure Hamas into releasing remaining hostages. Hamas rejected Israel’s proposed ceasefire plan, favoring a Qatari-Egyptian proposal that includes a phased truce, aid influx, and prisoner exchange.
