In a recent airstrike by the Israeli military on a school in Deir al Balah, a densely populated area in central Gaza, at least 30 Palestinians lost their lives. The school, according to Palestinian health officials, was alleged to have been housing a Hamas command centre. Over 100 others were reportedly injured in the strike, as confirmed by the Gaza health ministry and the government media office run by Hamas.
The Israeli military claimed in an announcement that the attacked school in Khadija’s compound, central Gaza, was used as a “Hamas command and control centre”. Furthermore, they alleged that the institution acted as a launching pad for attacks on troops and as an arsenal. The military insisted that they had alerted civilians prior to the strike.
The casualties and injured were hurriedly transported into Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah by ambulances. Some wounded individuals also arrived at the facility on foot, their clothes covered in blood. When confronted with previous attacks on civilian infrastructures, the Israeli military held the Islamist militant group Hamas responsible, alleging that they use densely populated neighbourhoods, schools, and hospitals as shield. However, Hamas has consistently denied these allegations.
Earlier on the same day, Palestinian officials reported 14 Palestinian deaths in the southern city of Khan Younis due to Israeli attacks. These casualties were taken to the Nasser Medical Complex. Later, the Israeli military issued statements to Palestinians in southern Khan Younis, warning them to relocate temporarily for they planned to “forcefully operate” there. They directed the inhabitants to a safer area in Al-Mawasi, and according to the military, this message was delivered through various means to ensure minimum civilian risk.
Furthermore, in the Al-Bureij refugee camp, five Palestinians were confirmed dead in an air strike on a residence, while another attack in Rafah claimed the lives of four others. The UN and humanitarian officials censured the Israeli tactics, alleging overuse of force and failure in providing civilians with secure areas, which Israel refuted.
“The military disclosed on Friday that it was in conflict with Palestinian militants in Khan Younis, where it annihilated tunnels and other facilities in a bid to control small militant factions that kept targeting their troops with mortar attacks. This highlights the challenge the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) faces in eradicating members of the group, amid persistent defiance, even nine months following the invasion of Gaza by Israel in response to a siege led by Hamas in early October.
According to medical authorities in Gaza, Israeli offensives in the territory have resulted in over 39,000 Palestinian deaths, regardless of whether they were militants or civilians. On the other hand, Israeli officials suggest that out of a force numbering over 25,000 at the onset of the conflict, approximately 14,000 fighters belonging to militant organisations such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad have either been slain or taken captive.
The incursion into southern Israel on the 7th of October claimed the lives of about 1,200 individuals, whilst 250 were seized as captives, according to Israeli counts.”- Reuters