Tel Aviv, Israel

An Israeli airstrike killed at least 28 people and injured dozens in a school sheltering displaced families in the central Gaza Strip on Thursday (Oct 10), the Palestinian Red Crescent said. 

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More than 50 other people were injured in the strike at Rufaida al-Aslamia school, which the medical organisation said was close to its headquarters in the town of Deir al-Balah.

The Israeli military said the "precise" strike targeted Hamas fighters operating inside a "command-and-control centre” at the school.

It added that the military had taken steps to lessen harm to civilians and accused Hamas of systematically abusing civilian infrastructure, an allegation the group has previously denied.

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Also read: At least 45 killed in last 24 hours as Israel carries out new strikes in Gaza

Meanwhile, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry also mentioned the death toll, saying 28 have been killed and calling it a “new massacre” by the Israeli military.

Since the war began almost a year ago, many schools have been turned into shelters for the 1.9 million Palestinians who have fled their homes. 

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UN commission accuses Israel of 'destroying Gaza's healthcare system'

The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry issued a statement, saying, "Israel has perpetrated a concerted policy to destroy Gaza's healthcare system as part of a broader assault on Gaza."

The country is "committing war crimes and the crime against humanity of extermination with relentless and deliberate attacks on medical personnel and facilities", it added.

Watch | Israel-Hamas War: Israeli Strikes Kill 12 Palestinians In Gaza

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The report further highlighted the abuse of Palestinian detainees in Israel and of hostages in Gaza, accusing both Israel and Palestinian armed groups of "torture" and sexual and gender-based violence.

However, Israel has accused the commission of  "systematic anti-Israeli discrimination" and has rejected the findings of its June report, which also accused Israel of committing crimes against humanity, including "extermination" in Gaza.

Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)