At least 27 killed in Israeli strikes near UN-run Gaza school, claims Hamas-run health ministry
Palestinians inspect the damage in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis
Days after a massive attack by Israel on the Jabalia refugee camp killed over 50 Palestinians, Hamas said that Thursday (Nov 2) saw another such attack, this time near a UN-run school in this Gazan area. Hamas-led health ministry said that the air strikes killed as many as 27 individuals present there.
The ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra in a statement said the bodies of 27 were "recovered and a large number of people wounded."
However, the AFP news agency could not verify the figures shared by the ministry even as the footage by the agency showed people running to save others from the bombardment as well as many running for cover.
Media reports also pointed to attacks by Israel on a UNRWA-run school in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza on Nov 2.
Israel's ground offensive on Gaza is now intensifying. As per reports, the Israeli Army on Thursday (Nov 2), with means of leaflets dropped on the Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza, directed residents to evacuate immediately.
“Our forces will bomb Hamas terrorists with overwhelming force in the coming hours. We do not promise that there will be another message. Evacuate immediately,” the leaflet reportedly read.
Gazans displaced amid Israel-Hamas war
The airstrikes have displaced thousands of people in northern Gaza, many of whom have sought shelter in the UNRWA-run school in the Shati refugee camp.
About five Palestinians were killed in an earlier raid that targeted areas near these schools.
The footage widely spread on social media allegedly showed white plumes of the controversial white phosphorus being used on the school grounds. Palestinians were seen scurrying to douse the fire.
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“They are targeting schools with phosphorus,” a person shown in the video said.
The air strikes have hit schools, hospitals and civilian infrastructure as Israel blames Hamas for using human shields amid the ongoing war.
The white phosphorus, when inhaled, can lead to lung injuries and suffocation and the use of it in war zones is highly contentious.
At least six people were killed in mid-October in an alleged Israeli rocket that struck a school operated by United Nations' Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) in Gaza's Al-Maghazi refugee camp.
(With inputs from agencies)
Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.