Israeli Airstrike on Gaza School Kills 16, Injures Dozens
An Israeli airstrike on a school housing displaced Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip's Al-Nuseirat refugee camp has claimed the lives of at least 16 people and left more than 50 others injured, according to the territory's health ministry and the official Palestinian news agency.
The Israeli military has acknowledged the incident and stated that it is investigating the report. The Gaza health ministry has confirmed 16 fatalities and numerous critical injuries as a result of the attack.
Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for the Gaza Civil Emergency Service, expressed concern that the death toll could rise due to the severity of the wounded individuals' conditions. He emphasized that the attack on the school has eliminated any semblance of safety for families seeking refuge within the enclave.
Al-Nuseirat, one of eight historic refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, has been subjected to intensified Israeli bombardment throughout Saturday. An earlier airstrike targeted a house within the camp, killing at least 10 people and injuring several others.
Mounting Casualties and Escalating Violence
The Gaza health ministry's daily update on casualties during the ongoing conflict reveals that Israeli military strikes have killed at least 29 Palestinians and injured 100 more within the past 24 hours. Notably, the airstrikes have claimed the lives of five local journalists, bringing the total number of media personnel killed since October 7th to 158, according to the Hamas-led Gaza government media office.
Gaza health authorities estimate that over 38,000 Palestinians have perished during Israel's offensive, which was launched in response to a Hamas-led assault on Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people and took over 250 hostage.
Israeli Operations in Rafah
Israeli forces have expanded their operations into Rafah, located in the southern region of the Gaza Strip near the Egyptian border. An airstrike on a vehicle carrying Palestinian police officers has resulted in the deaths of four officers and injuries to eight others.
The Hamas-run interior ministry has confirmed that the deceased include Fares Abdel-Al, the head of the police force in the western Rafah neighborhood of Tel Al-Sultan.
In a statement, the Israeli military has acknowledged ongoing intelligence-based operations in Rafah, claiming to have destroyed underground structures, seized weapons and equipment, and neutralized Palestinian gunmen. The stated objective of these operations is to eliminate the remaining Hamas armed wing battalions.
Destruction of Rocket Cell
The Israeli military has also reported the elimination of a Hamas rocket cell operating within a designated humanitarian area in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza. It maintains that a precise strike was carried out with measures in place to protect civilians.
Hamas has refuted Israeli accusations that it utilizes civilian properties and facilities for military purposes. In response to the escalating violence, the armed wings of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad have claimed attacks on Israeli forces using anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs in various areas of Gaza.
