Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Saturday killed 17 people, including Deiab al-Jaro, the mayor of Deir el-Balah. The strikes also killed seven people at a UN-run school sheltering displaced civilians. The school, located west of Gaza City, was a makeshift refuge for those displaced by the ongoing war.
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Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that the school strike also wounded at least 10 people, including women and children. Another airstrike hit the town hall in Deir el-Balah, killing Mayor Jaro and nine others. The Israeli military claimed Jaro was targeted as an alleged Hamas operative, although this claim has not been independently verified.
The ongoing conflict, which began after Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant casualties. The Hamas-run health ministry reports at least 44,930 deaths in Gaza, mostly civilians. Israeli airstrikes have continued, with at least 52 people killed in the past day, and further destruction in Gaza, particularly in Beit Lahiya and at Kamal Adwan Hospital.
