Missile event in Palestine on Sat 21st September 2024

Israeli airstrike on Gaza school claims lives of 22 Palestinians (Updated: 8.31pm) 21st September 2024 – (Gaza) At least 22 Palestinians have been killed and 30 others injured in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a school housing displaced individuals in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of southern Gaza City, according to Gaza-based health authorities. The attack, which occurred on Saturday, has drawn widespread condemnation, particularly as many of the casualties were reported to be women and children.

Palestinian security sources indicated that the airstrike involved at least one missile fired from an Israeli warplane, striking the school directly. The Hamas-run government media office described the incident as a “horrific massacre,” accusing the Israeli military of targeting a facility sheltering thousands of displaced people. The statement placed blame on the Israeli army and the U.S. administration for allowing such actions to continue, urging the international community to intervene and halt the violence.

In response, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee claimed that the airstrike was part of a targeted operation against Hamas militants, who were allegedly using the school as a command and control centre for planning attacks against Israel. Adraee stated that the operation was executed with intelligence guidance, aimed at neutralising what he described as “terrorist” activities.

This incident is part of a larger conflict that has escalated since Israel launched a major offensive against Hamas following an attack on its southern border on October 7, 2023, which left approximately 1,200 people dead and 250 taken hostage. Since then, the Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip has surged, now reported at 41,391 by local health authorities.