Israeli Strike on Gaza School Kills 22, Reports Say

At least 22 Palestinians were killed and over 100 wounded on Sunday in a strike on a UN-run school in central Gaza, which was being used as a shelter for displaced people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The Israeli military claimed it targeted Hamas “terrorists” operating from Abu Oraiban School in the Nuseirat refugee camp.

Witnesses, said that there were no armed fighters at the site and that children were among the casualties. This incident marks the fifth attack on or near schools in Gaza in the past eight days.

In addition to the school strike, residents reported fresh air and artillery strikes in central Gaza on Monday. Five people were reportedly killed when a house in the Maghazi refugee camp was hit. The Israeli military stated that its aircraft had targeted dozens of “terror targets” across the territory in the past day.

Negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release between Hamas and Israel are reportedly ongoing. This follows an air strike in the southern al-Mawasi humanitarian area on Saturday, which the health ministry said killed over 90 people. The Israeli military said the strike targeted a compound housing senior Hamas leaders, including Mohammed Deif and Rafa Salama. Salama was confirmed killed, but it is unclear if Deif also died. Hamas stated that Deif is in good health.

The recent conflict began on 7 October when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Since then, more than 38,660 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the health ministry. These figures include both civilians and combatants.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas used the school as a “hideout and operational infrastructure” for attacks against Israeli troops. They emphasized that “numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians,” including using precise munitions and additional intelligence. The IDF accused Hamas of using civilians and civilian structures as “human shields,” a charge that Hamas has denied.

Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defence force initially reported 15 deaths, mostly women and children. The health ministry later updated the death toll to 22. Hamas condemned the strike as an “extension of the genocide” against displaced Palestinians.

The IDF acknowledged carrying out five strikes on or near schools sheltering displaced people since 6 July, targeting Hamas figures and fighters using these sites as bases. Last Tuesday, hospital officials said at least 29 people were killed in an Israeli strike on a camp for displaced people near a school in Khan Younis. Additionally, 20 people were reportedly killed in three earlier strikes on other UN-run and church-run schools.