Israeli Airstrike Hits Gaza Refugee Camp; Militia Accused of Attempting to Kidnap Palestinians

On Monday (April 6), Israel carried out an airstrike on a school sheltering displaced Palestinians, killing at least 10 people and injuring many others. Health officials stated that the incident casts a shadow over the fragile ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

Reuters reported that, according to medics and residents, the airstrike occurred following clashes between a group of Palestinians and members of an Israeli-backed militia. They alleged that the militia attacked the school in an attempt to kidnap several individuals.

They added that Israeli drones fired two missiles east of the Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, resulting in at least 10 deaths and numerous injuries.

It remains unclear how many civilians were killed in the airstrike. The site of the attack is located within a densely populated neighborhood, where the majority of residents are displaced Palestinians.

A witness in Maghazi stated that their area came under attack by the Israeli-backed militia. Subsequently, the militia opened fire.

"Residents attempted to defend their homes, but the occupying forces attacked them directly."

Later that evening, medics reported that a separate Israeli airstrike in Gaza City killed one person and injured a child who were traveling on a motorcycle at the time.

Additionally, Israeli forces opened fire on a vehicle in central Gaza, killing one person and bringing the total death toll to at least 12.

Hamas and Israel have traded accusations regarding violations of the ceasefire agreement that took effect last October.

The Gaza Ministry of Health stated that since the ceasefire went into effect, Israeli fire has killed at least 700 people. Israel, for its part, stated that four Israeli soldiers were killed by militants in Gaza during the same period.

These acts of violence come as Hamas continues to refuse to disarm. On Sunday (April 5), Hamas declared that discussing disarmament prior to Israel's full implementation of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement constitutes an attempt to perpetuate genocide against the Palestinian people.