By An Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 27 people, according to Palestinian medical officials. The attack on Thursday targeted a facility in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah, intensifying concerns about civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict.
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where victims were transported, reported that the strike killed 27 individuals, including one child and seven women. Hospital staff also noted that several others were wounded in the attack. An Associated Press reporter at the scene witnessed ambulances arriving at the hospital and counted bodies, many of which were severely dismembered.
Israel’s military stated it had conducted a precise strike targeting what it claimed was a militant command and control center inside the school. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have repeatedly targeted schools converted into shelters in Gaza, accusing militants of using these facilities as hideouts. However, the military did not provide immediate evidence to support its claim in this instance.
Witnesses, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, reported that the strike occurred during a meeting between school managers and representatives from an aid group. They claimed there were no Hamas police present in the room at the time of the attack.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of Israel’s continued military operations in Gaza, which have persisted even as attention has shifted to its war against Hezbollah in Lebanon and rising tensions with Iran. Earlier this week, Israel launched a large-scale air and ground operation against Hamas in northern Gaza.
The ongoing conflict, which began with Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, has resulted in catastrophic humanitarian consequences. According to local health authorities in Gaza, over 42,000 Palestinians have been killed, with women and children comprising more than half of the fatalities. The war has also displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, often multiple times.
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