The civil defence agency in Gaza reported that an Israeli strike targeted a school in Gaza City on Tuesday, resulting in the death of at least seven individuals. Meanwhile, the Israeli military claimed it had hit a Hamas command center. According to agency spokesperson Mahmud Bassal, the bodies of five men and two children were recovered from the Mustafa Hafiz School building, which housed thousands of displaced individuals, after an Israeli plane bombed the second floor. Bassal also mentioned that 15 people were injured in the attack. AFP could not independently confirm the number of fatalities at the school, which the Israeli military stated was targeted due to its use as a Hamas command and control center. The military asserted that Hamas utilized this center to plan and execute attacks against the Israeli army and the State of Israel. The statement further explained that a precise strike was carried out on terrorists operating within the school. Earlier this month, the Israeli military had attacked the Al Tabieen School in Gaza City, leading to the death of 93 Palestinians according to the civil defence agency, while the military reported the death of 31 militants. Over the past few weeks, the military has targeted several schools across Gaza, predominantly in Gaza City, accusing them of being used as Hamas command centers, a claim denied by the Palestinian militant group. Since the conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted on October 7, following an attack by Palestinian militants on southern Israel, tens of thousands of displaced individuals have sought refuge in schools. The initial attack resulted in the deaths of 1,199 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Additionally, militants captured 251 people, 105 of whom remain held captive in Gaza, including 34 whom the military claims are deceased. Israel's retaliatory military campaign against Hamas has led to the death of at least 40,173 people in Gaza, as reported by the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, which does not differentiate between civilian and militant casualties. The majority of the deceased in Gaza are women and children, according to the UN human rights office.
Text: Lara Palmer
20.08.2024
Accusations and Denials: Schools in Gaza Targeted as Hamas Command Centers