At least 28 people were confirmed dead, with 54 others inured. The strike was done by the Israeli Air Force on a school in the central Gaza Strip according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. Rufaida al-Aslamia School in the town of Deir al-Balah was Attacked. The school was sheltering families that had sought refuge there after they had fled their homes in the conflict. Videos taken from the location showed thick clouds of smoke and dust and civilians could be seen rushing for their lives. Two consecutive aerial bombardments was witnessed which targeted two rooms in the school, a food distribution and storage site.
Israel's Response
The Israeli military said "precise strike" was done against Hamas fighters, who were operating inside what the Israelis said was a "command-and-control center" at the school, although Hamas has denied this report. "This is one of the many examples where Hamas abused civilian infrastructure for military purposes, against the international law," the Israeli military said in a statement. The strike again stoked the controversy about using civilian locations during military operations and striking innocents.
UN Condemns Attacks on Schools
This school, situated in the Israeli-designated al-Mawasi "humanitarian area," was hosting internally displaced Palestinians who fled the day-to-day clashes in Gaza. The United Nations was reporting that over 200 schools were struck since the start of the conflict and that at least 50 had been completely leveled.The Gaza health ministry, affiliated with Hamas has termed this attack as a "new massacre" by the Israeli military.
According to a list released by al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, among the victims were two children, five women, and three elderly men. The Israeli campaign against Hamas began after the unparalleled attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, leaving more than 1,200 dead. More than 42,060 have lost their lives since the start of the conflict in Gaza, as said by the health ministry in that region.
Inputs by Agencies
Image Source: Multiple Agencies
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