The Israeli Airstrike hits a school near Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 Palestinians and injuries to more than 100, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on Telegram that the Khadija School was being used as a Hamas command and control center.
They claimed Hamas utilized the site for planning attacks, storing weapons, and as a hideout. However, Gaza’s health ministry reported that footage revealed the victims were mostly civilians, including many children. The Report has confirmed that the video shows injured children among the casualties.
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Gaza’s civil defense service reported that the school was housing displaced individuals at the time of the attack. Hamas condemned the strike, stating that it resulted in the deaths of “displaced, sick, and wounded people, predominantly women and children.”
Verified footage from the scene depicts a chaotic environment with people running amidst rubble. Men are seen carrying bloodied children, a woman holding another child, and a group transporting an injured man on a stretcher. A covered body is also visible on the ground.
The IDF claimed it had taken measures to minimize civilian casualties before the strike, including using precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence. Gaza’s health ministry reported that since Saturday morning, Israeli bombings in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis have killed 53 people and injured 189.
The attack comes amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in over 39,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The conflict began when Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
On the same day, the IDF issued evacuation orders for civilians in southern Khan Younis, directing them to a newly designated “humanitarian area” in al-Mawasi. The IDF stated that it was preparing for a significant military operation due to ongoing rocket fire from southern Khan Younis and intelligence on Hamas infrastructure in the area. The military warned that staying in the region had become dangerous.
The IDF subsequently revised the boundaries of the humanitarian area, reducing it on Monday in preparation for operations against Palestinian fighters. Gaza’s health ministry reported that at least 70 people were killed by Israeli strikes around Khan Younis following the evacuation orders.
