Israeli strike on school sheltering displaced in Gaza kills five

Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli shelling on a school-turned-shelter killed five people on Friday.

Spokesman for the agency, Mahmud Bassal, told AFP that “five martyrs have been recovered as a result of the Israeli shelling of the shelter at the Gaza Martyrs School,” in the Tuffah neighbourhood east of Gaza City.

The attack occurred while displaced families were gathered at the school during a wedding celebration for two residents, turning the event into what witnesses described as a scene of bloodshed.

In a separate crime a day earlier, east of Khan Younis, Israeli occupation forces attacked a woman as she was inspecting her home. Four young men attempted to rescue her but were also killed in the attack, local sources said.
The bodies of the five martyrs reportedly remain lying in the streets, as rescue efforts continue to face severe constraints amid ongoing bombardment and restrictions.

Gaza is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis as heavy winter storms compound the devastation caused by ongoing Israeli attacks and a prolonged blockade, leaving displaced families exposed, homes collapsing, and emergency services overwhelmed.

Winter storms flood tents, collapse homes
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza reported that thousands of displacement tents were flooded overnight as a harsh winter storm swept across the Strip. The tents, which lack insulation or protective infrastructure, offered little shelter from heavy rain and strong winds.

The correspondent added that more than 50 homes have collapsed in recent days, particularly buildings already cracked and weakened by Israeli bombardment. Torrential rainfall and strong gusts caused damaged structures to disintegrate, in some cases collapsing onto their residents.

The Gaza Civil Defense said its crews were responding to the collapse of a residential home on al-Shifa Street in Gaza City, amid fears of further collapses as storms continue.

Describing the situation, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent said Gaza’s residents are now facing “a new war called winter,” as the Strip lacks emergency shelter, relief supplies, and basic protective materials.