Israeli Strike Kills 10 at Gaza School, WHO Shuts Down Evacuations

At least 10 people were killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike near a school sheltering displaced civilians in central Gaza Strip, according to local health officials. The strike took place east of the Maghazi refugee camp following clashes between residents and members of an Israeli-backed militia, whom locals accused of attempting to abduct individuals from the area. Witnesses said the situation escalated quickly, with armed confrontations preceding the arrival of Israeli drones that launched two missiles into the densely populated neighborhood.

Accounts from the scene suggest that residents tried to defend themselves during the confrontation, after which they came under direct fire. A figure associated with one of the militias later claimed in an unverified video that several Hamas members had been killed during the incident. The Palestinian group has not commented on the claim, but has consistently described such militias as collaborators with Israel.

Separate incidents across Gaza on the same day added to the death toll. Medics reported that one person was killed and a child wounded in a strike on a motorbike in Gaza City, while another individual died after Israeli forces opened fire on a vehicle in central Gaza. The Israeli military said the vehicle had approached troops despite warning shots, prompting the response. Altogether, at least 12 fatalities were reported across the enclave on Monday.

The violence comes amid a fragile ceasefire that has been repeatedly strained by ongoing hostilities. According to Gaza’s health authorities, more than 700 people have been killed by Israeli fire since the truce began, while Israel reports the deaths of four soldiers during the same period.

The humanitarian situation has been further complicated by a security incident involving the World Health Organization. Its Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed that a contractor was killed in Gaza, leading the agency to suspend medical evacuations through the Rafah crossing into Egypt. Two WHO employees were injured, while others present were unharmed. The Israeli military said the case is under review.

Tensions remain high as negotiations over the next phase of a US-backed peace initiative continue to stall. A central sticking point is the issue of disarmament, with Hamas rejecting calls to give up its weapons before Israel fulfills earlier commitments under the plan proposed by Donald Trump.

The broader conflict traces back to the October 7, 2023 attacks, in which around 1,200 people were killed in Israel. Since then, the Israeli military campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 72,000 deaths, according to local authorities, most of them civilians. The war has devastated infrastructure across the territory, triggered widespread displacement and contributed to severe shortages of food and essential supplies.