The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns in the strongest terms the horrific crime committed by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in recent hours, following repeated bombings of three schools being used as shelters for internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the Gaza Strip. These attacks resulted in the killing of at least 47 people, with dozens more injured or remain missing. The atrocity is part of the crime of genocide ongoing for 19 months. 

According to our researchers’ documentation, at approximately 03:45 on Wednesday, 07 May 2025, Israeli warplanes targeted al-Karama school in al-Tuffah neighborhood, east of Gaza City. As a result, at least eight people were killed, while others were injured or remain missing. At around 10:00, the Israeli warplanes bombed the school again, as displaced individuals were searching for missing persons and personal belongings. The second airstrike raised the death toll to 15, including a woman and at least two children. Additionally, Nour al-Deen Matar ‘Abdu, a reporter for Mashreq News Agency, was killed in the second strike while covering the incident. Civil defense crews are still working to recover those missing under the rubble.

At approximately 16:30 on Tuesday, 06 May 2025, Israeli warplanes launched an airstrike on al-Bureij Elementary Mixed School “Abu Himisa on the southern side”, which is used as an IDPs shelter in al-Bureij camp in the Central Gaza Strip. The airstrike killed 22 people and injured others. At around 22:20, the Israeli warplanes targeted the school again while the IDPs were collecting their personal belongings that had scattered after the first strike. The second airstrike killed 32 people, including 8 children and 6 women, while at least 90 others sustained various injuries.

One of the eyewitnesses and survivors, Ahmed Mohammed ‘Ali al-Khaldi, stated that the first attack on the school was with two missiles fired at the school’s yard, specifically in front of the school’s administration building. The strike created two large craters, scattering the bodies of victims and injured individuals across the area, and inciting fear and panic among the IDPs.

Following the bombing, some residents received phone warnings from Israeli intelligence officers, who ordered them to evacuate the school immediately. In response, many residents moved to the nearby school“ Abu Himisa on the northern side”. A few hours later, Israeli warplanes targeted both schools with two missiles, resulting in more deaths and injuries among the IDPs, most of whom had sought refuge in the nearby school in search of a safe shelter.

The IOF’s repeated and deliberate targeting of shelters for IDPs, who have been forcibly displaced from their homes, is clear evidence of their systematic intent to inflict more casualties among civilians and destroy the remaining temporary shelters, which have been systematically targeted and destroyed over the past 19 months.

Since the beginning of the military offensive on the Gaza Strip, IOF has escalated their targeted and intentional attacks on Palestinian families inside their houses, tents and shelters. As a result, hundreds of families have been wiped out of the civil registry and victims have been buried under the rubble- a scene reflecting a clear intent to destroy a group based on its national identity.

Meanwhile, IOF continues to issue forced displacement orders for the residents and displaced families, further shrinking the already limited areas available for refuge within the Gaza Strip. As a result, nearly 2.3 million people are now enclosed into a narrow geographical area- less than 35% of the Gaza strip’s total area of 365 km². These areas are uninhabitable without water, food, medicine, and shelter, leaving no safe place across the whole Gaza Strip. This embodies a deliberate policy by Israel aimed at depriving civilians of any safe haven.

This comes at a time the starvation crisis is escalating as Israel continues to close all Gaza’s crossings and block entry of humanitarian aid and food and medical supplies for 67 consecutive days.  As a result, hunger and malnutrition have hit high levels, especially among children, women and patients.

PCHR emphasizes that silence towards these crimes is explicit complicity. The international community must rise to its responsibilities not merely under law, but towards the very essence of humanity. Immediate international action is urgently needed to end the systematic violations and crimes committed by IOF against the Palestinian people.

PCHR calls for immediate and serious measures to stop the ongoing crime of genocide and hold the Israeli perpetrators of these crimes accountable before international courts.  PCHR also urges the State Parties to the Genocide Convention to fulfil their legal and moral obligations and take urgent action to protect the Palestinian civilians from the mass killings and serious human rights violations.