Deadly Israeli strike hits Gaza school, at least 54 killed

At least 54 Palestinians were killed overnight of Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, with most of casualties occurring at a school building sheltering displaced families.

This was disclosed by hospital directors who spoke to the BBC.

The Fahmi Al-Jargawi School in Gaza City was being used as a refuge by hundreds of civilians fleeing the ongoing Israeli military operation in Beit Lahia, an area currently under heavy assault.

Reports indicate that at least 35 people died when the school was hit during the airstrikes.

Gaza’s Civil Defence, run by Hamas, reported that many bodies were found at the scene, including those of children.

Several of the victims were severely burned after fires spread through classrooms that had been converted into living quarters.

Rescue teams said the extent of the damage made efforts to save those trapped inside extremely difficult.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that it had targeted what it described as a command and control center used by both Hamas and Islamic Jihad inside the school.

According to the IDF, the location was being used by militants to plan attacks against both Israeli civilians and military personnel.

The IDF further accused Hamas of operating within densely populated civilian areas and using residents as human shields.

Footage shared online depicted large sections of the school engulfed in flames.

The video showed disturbing scenes of severely burned victims, including children, as well as critically injured survivors. Eyewitness accounts described the horror experienced by first responders.

Faris Afana, the head of the Northern Gaza ambulance service, described the devastation upon arriving at the scene.

He said emergency crews found three classrooms on fire, with people, including women and children, trapped inside.

“Some were screaming, but we couldn’t rescue them due to the intensity of the flames,” he recounted. “What we witnessed was beyond words—absolutely horrific.”

Among the dead, local reports identified Mohammad Al-Kasih, the chief investigator for the Hamas-run police in northern Gaza.

He was killed alongside his wife and children, further highlighting the heavy toll on families.

In a separate incident, an airstrike on a residential house in Jabalia, another location in northern Gaza, resulted in the deaths of 19 individuals, according to Dr. Fadel el-Naim, director of al-Ahli hospital.

As of now, the Israeli military has not commented on the specific target of this attack.

These two strikes are part of a larger military offensive that Israel has been intensifying in northern Gaza over the past week.

The IDF stated that in just 48 hours, it struck 200 targets across the territory, continuing its campaign against what it terms “terrorist organizations.”

While the fighting continues, there appears to be movement on the diplomatic front.

A senior Hamas official informed the BBC on Monday that the group has accepted the latest ceasefire proposal mediated by international parties.

A Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations revealed that the plan includes the release of 10 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in two separate stages.

In return, the proposal outlines a 70-day ceasefire period, during which Israel would initiate a gradual and partial withdrawal of its forces from Gaza.

Additionally, the agreement would involve the release of a specific number of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, including several hundred who are serving long-term or life sentences.

The BBC has reached out to the Israeli government for its response to the proposed ceasefire plan, but no comment has been made so far.

The situation in Gaza remains critical as civilian casualties rise and destruction spreads.

Humanitarian agencies and international observers continue to raise alarms about the growing toll on non-combatants and the urgent need for de-escalation.

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