In a devastating escalation of the ongoing conflict, at least 30 Palestinians were killed and over 100 others wounded in an Israeli airstrike on a school in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. The Gaza health ministry and the Hamas-run government media office reported the casualties from the strike, which targeted what the Israeli military claimed was a Hamas command center.
The strike hit the Khadija school compound, which Israeli officials alleged was being used by Hamas as both a command and control center and a weapons cache. The Israeli military stated it had issued warnings to evacuate civilians before the attack, but these claims have been contested.
The attack has drawn criticism from international and humanitarian officials who accuse Israel of using disproportionate force and failing to provide safe havens for civilians. The wounded, many of whom were transported to Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah, arrived with serious injuries, some on foot with blood-stained clothes.
Earlier on the same day, Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, a southern city, resulted in the deaths of at least 14 Palestinians. Additionally, airstrikes in the Al-Bureij refugee camp and Rafah caused further casualties. The Israeli military’s strategy of targeting areas with reported Hamas activity has been met with allegations of excessive force and insufficient protection for non-combatants.
This recent escalation is part of a broader and intensifying conflict that began with the Hamas-led attack on October 7. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been engaged in extensive operations aimed at dismantling Hamas’s capabilities, which has included battles in Khan Younis and the destruction of tunnels and other infrastructure.
According to Gaza health authorities, over 39,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the conflict, with estimates of approximately 14,000 fighters from Hamas and other militant groups killed or captured by Israeli forces. The situation remains dire as the conflict continues to ravage Gaza and its inhabitants.
Sources By Agencies
