CAIRO, April 9 (Reuters) – Israeli forces shot and killed a young female student on Thursday while she was attending a class held in a tent in the town of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, health and education officials said.
The education ministry said third-grade student Ritaj Rihan was hit by a bullet in front of her classmates, causing them “a strong psychological shock”.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident.
Under a ceasefire in place since last October, Israel still occupies more than half of the Gaza Strip. Nearly all buildings in the Israeli-controlled sector have been levelled and residents driven out.
That leaves virtually the entire population of more than 2 million people confined to around a third of Gaza’s territory, mostly in makeshift tents and damaged buildings, where life has resumed under the control of an administration led by Hamas.
Displaced Gaza children are attending classes given by volunteer teachers in crowded tents in some areas, keen to continue their education despite the widespread destruction of schools.
These makeshift classrooms face severe challenges, including harsh weather, resource shortages, and ongoing security risks.
More than 700 Palestinians have been killed since the October deal took effect, while militants have killed three Israeli soldiers. Palestinians say Israeli forces have been moving some of the yellow concrete markers westward, encroaching into unoccupied territory. Israel denies this.
Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed more than 71,000 people, according to the enclave’s health ministry. The war was triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed some 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.
(Reporting by Nidal al-MughrabiEditing by Gareth Jones)
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