At least 100 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip during Israeli airstrikes on Thursday, with 31 or more victims reportedly sheltering at a school in Deir al Balah, according to medics and health officials. The Israeli military claims it targeted a Hamas command center, but witnesses describe a devastating strike that killed many civilians.
The death toll includes 14 children and five women recovered from the school, with over 70 wounded people sustaining critical injuries, said Health Ministry spokesman Zaher al-Wahidi. More than 30 Gaza residents were killed in strikes on homes in nearby Shijaiyah, according to hospital records.
Israel’s military has accused Hamas of hiding fighters in civilian infrastructure, but provided no evidence to support this claim. The Israeli military promised an independent investigation into a March operation that killed Palestinian medics and ambulances, sparking widespread criticism from human rights groups.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that Israel’s war has killed over 50,600 Palestinians since the conflict began, with more than half of those being women and children. Humanitarian aid is in short supply due to Israel’s blockade on food, fuel, and supplies.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-gaza-hamas-war-idf-school-strike-palestinians-deaths-children