Israeli Airstrike on Gaza School Results in 30 Deaths, Reports Health Ministry

Post by: Elena Malik

Photo : Reuters

Israel's military has struck a school near Deir al-Balah, a city in central Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 Palestinians and injuries to more than 100, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Telegram that the Khadija School had been targeted because it contained a Hamas command and control centre. The IDF claimed that Hamas used the school compound to plan attacks and store weapons.

Gaza’s health ministry, however, reported that footage from the scene showed civilian casualties, with most of the victims being children.

Gaza's civil defence service indicated that the school was serving as a shelter for displaced people. In a statement on Telegram, Hamas denied the IDF's claims, asserting that the school was housing displaced, sick, and wounded individuals, mostly women and children.

Witness Mustafa Rafati described the explosion as powerful enough to knock him over. Upon running inside the school, he described seeing a "terrifying scene" with body parts scattered. He expressed his shock at the devastation.

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Verified video footage from the scene depicted chaos, with people running amidst the rubble. Men were seen carrying bloodied children, a woman was hugging another child, and a group was transporting an injured man on a stretcher. One body lay on the ground, covered by a blanket.

The IDF stated that prior to the strike, measures were taken to minimize civilian casualties, including using appropriate munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence.

Gaza's health ministry reported that 53 people had been killed and 189 injured since Saturday morning due to IDF bombings in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis.

The attack is part of Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which, according to Gaza's health ministry, has resulted in the deaths of more than 39,000 Palestinians. This conflict began on October 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemned the strike on Deir al-Balah on social media, noting it came as the population faced repeated relocations with no end in sight. He called for an immediate ceasefire.

Ceasefire negotiations, led by CIA head Bill Burns, are scheduled to begin on Sunday with representatives from Qatar, Egypt, and Israel.

The Deir al-Balah strike occurred as the IDF ordered civilians in southern parts of Khan Younis to evacuate to a "humanitarian area" in al-Mawasi. The IDF stated it was preparing to "forcefully operate" following "significant" rocket fire from southern Khan Younis and intelligence indicating Hamas infrastructure in the area. The military warned civilians that remaining in the area had become dangerous.

The IDF released maps showing a reduced humanitarian area in al-Mawasi, shrinking the zone after ordering part of it to evacuate for an operation against Palestinian fighters regrouped there.

Following evacuation orders, Gaza's health ministry reported at least 70 people killed by Israeli strikes around Khan Younis.

In the West Bank, a 17-year-old and a 24-year-old were killed, and 22 people were injured in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus during Israeli military action, according to the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Health.

The IDF has been contacted for further comments on these reports.

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