Israel Accused of Killing 9-Year-Old Student Inside Gaza Classroom
A 9-year-old student was killed during class in northern Gaza, according to Palestinian officials, in an incident that is drawing renewed scrutiny to civilian safety under a fragile ceasefire.
The girl, identified as Ritaj Rihan, was shot while attending a lesson in a tent classroom in Beit Lahiya, Gaza’s education ministry said. Officials say the bullet struck her in front of other students, intensifying concern over how close active conflict remains to civilian spaces.
According to Reuters, the ministry reported the shooting caused “a strong psychological shock” among classmates. The incident occurred despite a ceasefire that has technically been in place since October, though violence has continued across the territory.
What remains unclear is how the shooting happened. The Israeli military had not issued a comment at the time of reporting, leaving unanswered whether the gunfire was intentional, part of nearby operations, or the result of crossfire.
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“The classmates suffered a strong psychological shock,” the Gaza education ministry said in a statement.
The killing highlights a broader pattern of instability during the ceasefire period. Reuters has reported that more than 700 Palestinians have been killed since the agreement began, while Israel maintains it is targeting militant threats in ongoing operations.
With much of Gaza’s infrastructure destroyed, many schools now operate in temporary or exposed conditions, increasing the risk to children during military activity.
It remains unclear whether an investigation will follow or if either side will formally address the incident.
For now, the ceasefire continues, but incidents like this are raising new questions about its effectiveness.
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