Gaza war: IDF attack on school kills 31; Israel says it targeted Hamas hideout
Israeli airstrike hit school in central Gaza, killing at least 30
An Israeli attack on a Gaza school left at least 31 people dead on Saturday (Jul 27). The attack, which killed many children and wounded 100 others, targeted a field hospital in the Khadija school located in the central Gaza Strip. The Israeli Army stated its fighter jets targeted members of the Palestinian militant group, Hamas.
“The death toll from Israel’s attack on a field hospital inside a school housing displaced people in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza has risen to 31,” the Gaza government media office spokesman, Ismail Al-Thawabta, was quoted as saying by the news agency Anadolu.
Earlier, the media office of the Gaza government said in a statement that “the Israeli occupation army committed a new massacre a short while ago by bombing a field hospital set up inside Khadija School in Deir al-Balah in the Central Governorate.”
Watch:Israel-Hamas war: Israeli forces advance in Southern Gaza
“The occupation bombed the hospital with three missiles from fighter jets, which led to the killing of 18 people and dozens of injuries,” it added.
Gaza officials also claimed the attack happened in an area designated as a “humanitarian safe zone” in Deir al-Balah.
Israel's justification
Israeli media citinga statement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the school was being used by Hamas militants "to develop and store large quantities of weapons and as a hiding place to plan attacks on Israeli troops and civilians".
The Israeli military had earlier ordered the evacuation of the zone ahead of the planned strike. The IDF said the order came in response to a rocket attack that originated from the site.
Earlier in the day, officials in Gaza said that at least 14 Palestinians were killed by Israeli attacks since dawn in Khan Younis.
On Friday (Jul 26), the IDF fought against Hamas militants in the Khan Younis area and destroyed several tunnels and other infrastructure.
Gaza health authorities claim more than 39,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes in the enclave since the start of the war on October 7 last year.
(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.