An Israeli attack on a school acting as a shelter in northern Gaza has highlighted the difficult choices facing civilians seeking safety after 10 months of war. The article describes the dire conditions in the abandoned school shelters where tens of thousands of people have sought refuge from airstrikes and ground assaults, despite overcrowding, extreme hunger, and disease. One resident, Ahmed Tahseen Abd Shabat, explained that despite being a target, the school provided the best security option in a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives. As a result, the schools have become preferred sanctuaries for many Gazans. The Israeli military has targeted these schools as part of its campaign to suppress Hamas in Gaza. It claims that Hamas has used civilian infrastructure as bases and human shields, and asserts that its strikes are conducted in compliance with international law. Nevertheless, the United Nations has expressed concern over the widespread destruction of its buildings in Gaza, posing a long-term threat to the education of children in the region. The United Nations has called for an independent investigation to determine whether the schools have been utilized for military purposes, emphasizing the need to protect these facilities during times of conflict.