The Israeli military said it struck militants inside a Hamas command embedded within the schools, accusing Hamas of operating from within civilian property
GAZA CITY: On Sunday, an Israeli airstrike targeted two schools in Gaza City, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 30 civilians, according to Palestinian officials. The Israeli military claimed that these strikes were aimed at a Hamas military compound located within the schools. Earlier in the day, an Israeli strike on a tent camp situated within a hospital in central Gaza caused further casualties, bringing the total number of Palestinian deaths on Sunday to a staggering 44, as reported by Gaza health officials.
This increase in violence follows a failed round of negotiations in Cairo. The Israeli military’s justification for the strikes was that they were targeting Hamas fighters operating from civilian areas, a claim that the Palestinian authorities and international observers dispute. They argue that such military actions disproportionately impact civilians and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In a separate incident, an Israeli airstrike hit the Al-Aqsa Hospital compound in Deir Al-Balah, igniting a fire that injured at least 18 people and killed five. The Israeli military asserted that the attack was on a fighter in the area and cited secondary explosions as evidence of weapons storage.
However, the hospital compound, which shelters thousands of displaced individuals, became a focal point of the conflict, leading to further civilian suffering. Additional Israeli strikes in Deir Al-Balah and other areas, including Jabalia camp in northern Gaza City, resulted in more civilian casualties. The strikes have drawn severe criticism from international human rights organizations, who argue that the Israeli military’s actions are disproportionately harming innocent Palestinians. In response to the ongoing violence, residents in previously contested areas received evacuation orders from the Israeli military. The military instructed them to move to designated humanitarian zones, warning of imminent military action. Despite these warnings, the situation remains dire, with continued attacks exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
In Israel, sirens were activated in Ashdod as rockets were launched from southern Gaza, though no injuries were reported. Hamas described the rocket attack as retaliation for what it termed as Israeli “massacres against civilians.” The conflict’s escalation follows the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and an Israeli strike in Beirut that killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr. The situation remains volatile, with Israel preparing for potential retaliation from Iran and its allies. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has convened security discussions, and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has warned of a decisive response to any attacks.
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