Dozens reported dead in Israeli strike on Gaza school
Dozens of people have been reported killed and injured after an Israeli strike on the Tabeen school in Gaza City overnight. The Hamas-run government claims that more than 100 people were killed in the strike, with many others injured. However, Gaza health officials have put the death toll at around 60.
The Israeli military stated that its air force targeted a command and control center where Hamas commanders and operatives were hiding. They mentioned that they had taken steps to minimize the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and intelligence information. The IDF did not immediately comment on the casualty reports from Gaza.
According to Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesperson for the Civil Defence first responders under the Hamas-run government, three missiles tore through the school and the mosque inside, where about 6,000 displaced people were seeking shelter from the ongoing conflict. Bassal also noted that the death toll was expected to rise.
Israel claims that around 20 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants were operating from the Gaza City school that was targeted by the Israeli air force. The Israeli military spokesperson stated that the compound and the mosque within it served as an active Hamas and Islamic Jihad military facility. The IDF emphasized that the casualty figures provided by the Hamas-run media office do not align with the information they have.
The strike on the Gaza school has been denounced by Hamas as a horrific crime and a serious escalation. Israel argues that Hamas embeds among Gaza’s civilians, operating from within schools, hospitals, and designated humanitarian zones – a claim that Hamas denies.
The United Nations reports that 477 out of 564 schools in Gaza have been directly hit or damaged in the conflict as of July 6th. In June, an Israeli strike on a school housing displaced Palestinians in central Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 33 people, including women and children.
The Israeli military maintains that civilian deaths in Gaza are attributed to Hamas, accusing the group of using schools and residential areas as bases for operations and attacks. In their recent statement, the Israeli military mentioned that the school targeted was located next to a mosque serving as a shelter for Gaza City residents.
In related news, Israeli tanks have returned to the southern Gaza City of Khan Younis, forcing evacuations amid ongoing fighting. Iran has vowed to “harshly punish” Israel over the assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran. The US has expressed concern over the escalation of tensions in the Middle East and called for a Gaza ceasefire.
As the conflict in the region continues, concerns about civilian casualties and the impact on displaced populations remain at the forefront. The international community closely watches the situation, with calls for de-escalation and efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
