Palestinians say Israeli strike hits U.N.-run school; Blinken meets Arab leaders
By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Simon Lewis and Suleiman Al-Khalidi
GAZA/AMMAN (Reuters) — Palestinians reported a deadly Israeli strike on a U.N.-run school in northern Gaza serving as a shelter on Saturday ahead of talks in Jordan at which U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken heard Arab demands for a ceasefire in the enclave.
Witnesses said the strike hit Al-Fakhoura school in Jabalia, where thousands of evacuees were living. At least 15 people died and dozens more were wounded, said Gaza health ministry official Mohammad Abu Selmeyah.
Reuters pictures of the aftermath showed broken furniture and other belongings lying on the ground, patches of blood spilled on the ground and over food and people crying.
«I was standing here when three bombings happened, I carried a body and another decapitated body with my own hands,» a young boy said in video obtained by Reuters, crying in despair. «God will take my vengeance.»
Nearby, a resident comforted a woman in shock.
One man asked angrily: «Since when has it become normal to strike shelters? This is so unfair.»
Juliette Touma, director of communication for the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), confirmed to Reuters that the U.N-run school, which is in the Gaza City area, had been hit.
She said there were children among the casualties, but that UNRWA had not yet been able to verify the exact death toll.
«At least one strike hit the schoolyard where there were tents for displaced families. Another strike hit inside the school where women were baking bread,» Touma said by phone.
The ministry of health in Gaza said another Israeli missile strike killed two women at the door of the Nasser Children Hospital. Several more people were injured, it said.
The Israeli military had no
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