Victims recount Israel’s killing at point blank in Gaza refugee camp, UN says no safe space for Gazans

The Shadia Abu Ghazala School, run by the United Nations in northern Gaza, witnessed a massacre as Israeli soldiers entered the building where displaced families sought refuge.

The incident occurred in early December, leaving a haunting scene of bodies piled up inside classrooms, with bullet holes and charred walls bearing witness to the horror that unfolded.

Survivors and family members of the victims have come forward, recounting the nightmarish moments when Israeli forces allegedly executed several people, including women, children, and babies, who were taking shelter in the school.

Witnesses described the soldiers storming into classrooms, firing directly at those present without uttering a word. One father, who was with his wife and six children, spoke of being silenced every time he attempted to communicate with the soldiers.

Videos and images obtained by Al Jazeera revealed the aftermath of the attack, showing bloodstains and remnants of victims' belongings amidst bullet-pierced walls. Family members who returned to the school in the days following the assault found the bodies in a brutal state, some "swollen and filled with worms."

The Gaza Strip has been grappling with a humanitarian crisis as Israeli army evacuation orders force Palestinians to seek safety in designated areas.

However, the densely populated enclave offers little space for those displaced, creating what UN humanitarian team leader Gemma Connell described as a "human chessboard." Thousands of people, displaced multiple times, are on the run with no guarantee of finding a safe destination.

Connell highlighted the challenges faced by Palestinians trying to escape the conflict, describing a situation where people are moved around like pieces on a chessboard, with evacuation orders leading to overcrowded areas that may not be safe.

The United States, Israel's staunch ally, has been pressuring Israel to take steps to minimize civilian harm, urging the identification of safe areas and the clearance of humanitarian routes for people to escape.

In response, the Israeli military spokesperson emphasized their efforts to evacuate civilians from areas of fighting, accusing Hamas of systematically preventing these evacuation attempts. The military alleges that the Palestinian militant group uses civilians as human shields, a claim denied by Hamas.