At least 30 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike on a school in Deir al Balah in central Gaza, Palestinian health officials said, and the Israeli military said it had struck a Hamas command centre.
The Gaza health ministry and the Hamas-run government media office gave the toll for those killed in the strike on the school in Deir Al-Balah, one of the areas most populated with displaced families, and said over 100 others were wounded.
The Israeli military said in a statement it had targeted a “Hamas command and control center inside the Khadija school compound in central Gaza”.
The statement said the school was being used to launch attacks against troops and as a weapons cache and that it warned civilians before the strike.
In previous such strikes that have hit civilian infrastructure, Israel’s military has blamed the militant Islamist group Hamas for putting civilians in harm’s way, accusing it of operating within densely populated neighbourhoods, schools and hospitals as cover. Hamas denies this.
Earlier on Saturday, Palestinian official media said that at least 14 Palestinians were killed by Israeli attacks since dawn in the southern city of Khan Younis and that their bodies were brought to Nasser Medical Complex.
The Israeli military told Palestinians to temporarily evacuate southern neighborhoods of Khan Younis so it could “forcefully operate” there, telling them to relocate to a humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi, a military statement said.
The military said its calls to evacuate were communicated to the population via several mediums in order to mitigate danger to civilians.
In Al-Bureij refugee camp, five Palestinians were killed earlier in an Israeli air strike on a house, while four others were killed in another strike on a house in Rafah, near the border with Egypt, medics said.
U.N. and humanitarian officials accuse Israel of using disproportionate force in the war and of failing to ensure civilians have safe places to go, which it denies.
On Friday the military said troops battled Palestinian fighters in Khan Younis, and destroyed tunnels and other infrastructure, as they sought to suppress small militant units that have continued to hit troops with mortar fire.
The fighting, more than nine months after the start of Israel’s invasion of Gaza following the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack, underlined the difficulty the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has in eliminating fighters of the group amid continued resistance.
More than 39,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes in the enclave, according to Gaza health authorities, who do not distinguish between fighters and non-combatants.
Israeli officials estimate that some 14,000 fighters from militant groups including Hamas and Islamic Jihad have been killed or taken prisoner, out of a force they estimated to number more than 25,000 at the start of the war.
Around 1,200 people were killed and 250 were taken hostage in the Oct. 7 raid on southern Israel, according to Israeli tallies.
The recent Israeli strike on a school in Deir al Balah in central Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 30 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials. The Israeli military claims that the strike targeted a Hamas command center inside the Khadija school compound. However, the Gaza health ministry and the Hamas-run government media office have accused Israel of using disproportionate force and putting civilians in harm’s way.
This incident is part of an ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, with both sides blaming each other for the violence. The Israeli military has accused Hamas of operating within densely populated areas, using schools and hospitals as cover. Hamas denies these allegations.
In addition to the strike on the school, Israeli attacks in the southern city of Khan Younis have resulted in the deaths of at least 14 Palestinians. The Israeli military has urged Palestinians to temporarily evacuate the area so that it can “forcefully operate” there. However, U.N. and humanitarian officials have criticized Israel for failing to ensure the safety of civilians and providing them with safe places to go.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine has been ongoing for several months, with both sides engaging in battles and destroying infrastructure. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have been trying to eliminate fighters from militant groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad. However, the resistance from these groups has made it difficult for the IDF to achieve its goals.
According to Gaza health authorities, more than 39,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes, without distinguishing between fighters and non-combatants. On the other hand, Israeli officials estimate that around 14,000 fighters have been killed or taken prisoner out of a force that numbered more than 25,000 at the start of the war.
The conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life and has had a devastating impact on both Israeli and Palestinian communities. The international community has called for an end to the violence and a peaceful resolution to the conflict. However, finding a lasting solution has proven to be a challenging task.
In conclusion, the recent Israeli strike on a school in Gaza has further escalated the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. The high number of casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure have raised concerns about the use of disproportionate force and the safety of civilians. The international community continues to call for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and an end to the violence.