GAZA, Sept 22, V7N - In southern Gaza City, an Israeli airstrike on a school housing displaced persons resulted in the deaths of at least 22 people, including women and children. Six women and thirteen children were among the dead, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The Israeli military, however, stated that the strike aimed at a Hamas command center located within the school compound, reiterating accusations that Hamas uses civilian facilities for military purposes, which Hamas denies.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with children playing in the schoolyard when the rockets struck. Eyewitness Said Al-Malahi recounted the horror, stating, "The women and their children were sitting in the playground... and suddenly two rockets hit them." The aftermath showed extensive destruction, with wrecked furniture and debris scattered throughout the site.
Additional Casualties and Ongoing Conflict.

In a separate incident in Rafah, four health workers were killed by an Israeli strike that hit ministry warehouses, further complicating the humanitarian situation. The Gaza health ministry reported that ambulance crews were unable to reach the site to assist the wounded.

The ongoing conflict, which escalated after Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, has resulted in over 41,000 Palestinian deaths and the displacement of nearly the entire population of Gaza, estimated at 2.3 million. The war has been marked by significant violence, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.

Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire have been hindered by disagreements over key issues, including Israel's demand to maintain control over the southern border with Egypt and the specifics of a potential exchange of hostages. While Hamas seeks an end to the conflict and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, Israel insists that hostilities can only cease with the complete dismantling of Hamas's military capabilities.

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