An Israeli airstrike on the Fahmi Al-Jargawi School in Gaza City has killed at least 54 Palestinians, most of whom were sheltering from ongoing military operations, hospital officials told the BBC. The school had been housing hundreds of displaced people from Beit Lahia, an area currently under intense Israeli bombardment.

Local emergency workers and Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defence reported that many victims were severely burned when fires tore through classrooms being used as living quarters. Bodies of children were among those pulled from the rubble.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strike targeted a command and control centre used by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, accusing the groups of using civilian structures as shields to plan attacks on Israeli forces and civilians.

Ambulance crews who responded to the scene described horrific conditions. “There were sleeping children and women in those classrooms,” said Faris Afana, head of ambulance services in northern Gaza. “Some were screaming, but we couldn’t reach them because of the flames.”

Local media reported that Mohammad Al-Kasih, head of investigations for the Hamas police in northern Gaza, was among the dead, along with his wife and children.

In a separate incident, a strike on a house in Jabalia killed 19 people, according to Dr. Fadel el-Naim, director of al-Ahli hospital. The IDF has not issued a statement on that specific strike.

The twin attacks are part of a wider Israeli offensive in northern Gaza. The IDF said it had struck 200 targets across the territory in the past 48 hours, continuing its campaign against what it describes as “terrorist organisations.”

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue. A senior Hamas official told the BBC that the group had accepted a new ceasefire proposal. A Palestinian source familiar with the talks said the deal includes a 70-day truce, a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the release of 10 Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

In a separate tragic event, an Israeli strike on Friday killed nine of Dr. Alaa al-Najjar’s 10 children at their home. Her husband and surviving son were injured, with the father in critical condition. The IDF says it is reviewing the incident.

The following day, a strike on a residence in Khan Younis killed two staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), prompting the organisation to reiterate calls for an immediate ceasefire due to the rising civilian death toll.

Controversy also surrounds aid efforts. Jake Wood, executive director of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) – a body backed by the U.S. and Israel – resigned, citing concerns that planned aid distribution failed to meet humanitarian principles of neutrality and independence. The UN and other major aid groups have refused to work with the GHF, accusing it of discriminatory practices.

Despite a temporary easing of the blockade, aid delivery remains severely restricted. On Sunday, only 107 trucks were permitted to enter Gaza. The UN maintains that 500–600 trucks are needed daily to address the humanitarian crisis.

International efforts to end the conflict continued over the weekend as 20 nations and organisations met in Madrid. Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called for an arms embargo on Israel if it does not halt its military operations.

Israel's campaign in Gaza began following a deadly Hamas-led cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 53,939 Palestinians – including over 16,500 children – have been killed since then. Fifty-seven hostages remain in captivity, with about 20 believed to still be alive.