At least 49 Palestinian civilians have been killed and dozens more wounded after Israeli warplanes bombed two schools—one sheltering displaced families in Al-Bureij refugee camp and another east of Gaza City—between Tuesday evening and dawn on Wednesday, local medical sources report.

In Al-Bureij, the Abu Hamisa School, serving as a shelter for families uprooted by fighting, was struck twice on Tuesday night. Medical teams at Al-Awda Hospital confirmed that 33 civilians lost their lives and 73 were wounded in the two strikes. Survivors described scenes of horror as the school’s concrete walls, once a place of refuge, collapsed under relentless bombing.

“We ran for our lives as the roof caved in,” one displaced mother recounted. “There was nowhere safe to go.”

Early Wednesday morning, the Al-Karama School in eastern Gaza City—also housing displaced civilians—was hit by an airstrike that killed 16 people and injured dozens more. Civil defense crews worked through the rubble to recover bodies and rescue survivors, but ongoing shelling hampered their efforts.

These latest school bombings underscore the indiscriminate nature of Israel’s 19-month-long military campaign in Gaza, which has already claimed over 52,600 lives—mostly women and children—and injured 118,752 others since October 7, 2023. The total blockade, in place since March 2, has cut off food, medicine, and fuel, turning schools, hospitals, and shelters into targets rather than sanctuaries.

“They bomb our schools where we seek safety,” said a displaced teacher. “Children’s laughter has turned to cries of terror.”

Human rights organizations and UN agencies have condemned these attacks as war crimes. UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. The International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants last year against Israeli leaders for alleged crimes against humanity have yet to deter the ongoing onslaught.

With over two million Gazans living under siege, communities are left with only hours or days of dwindling supplies. Aid convoys remain blocked at crossing points, while local doctors warn of cholera outbreaks, severe malnutrition, and untreated injuries.

“Our children deserve to learn, not to die in bombed-out classrooms,” pleaded a Gaza City mother.

As rescue teams race against time to tend to the wounded and recover the dead, Palestinians in Gaza vow to endure, their resilience growing even as the bombs fall. International solidarity groups are mounting new protests worldwide, demanding an end to the siege and accountability for those who have turned civilian shelters into killing fields. (ILKHA)