An Israeli airstrike on a Gaza school compound sheltering displaced families reportedly killed around 100 people, according to the Hamas-run Gaza government.
The Israeli military, however, stated that the strike targeted Hamas militants at the location and expressed skepticism about the reported death toll.
Video footage from the scene showed dismembered body parts on the ground, with more bodies being carried away and covered in blankets. The area was littered with empty food cans, blood-stained puddles, charred mattresses, and a child’s doll amidst the debris.
According to the Hamas-run media office, the airstrikes hit the school compound during dawn prayers, causing numerous casualties.
Palestinian Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal reported over 93 deaths, including 11 children and six women, with some remains still unidentified.
The compound was sheltering approximately 6,000 people at the time. The Gaza health ministry has not yet released detailed casualty figures.
The Israeli military, in a message, disputed the reported death toll, claiming it was exaggerated.
They asserted that around 20 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants were active at the site, which they described as a military facility housing these groups.
Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani stated that the figures released by the Hamas-run Government Information Office do not match the information held by the IDF, including details about the munitions used and the accuracy of the strike.
A military official stated that the portion of the mosque targeted was a men’s area, and no women or children were present there.
He added that intelligence confirmed this and that the strike used three small, accurate munitions, which should not have caused the extensive damage reported.
However, during the Gaza City news conference, Bassal described the attack as impacting both the upper and ground floors of the school, with women and children on the upper floor and people praying on the ground floor directly hit by the strike.
Hamas claims that the recent airstrike was a severe escalation and a horrific crime, asserting that none of the casualties were combatants, according to a statement by Izzat El-Reshiq of Hamas’ political office.
Israel, however, argues that Palestinian militant groups like Hamas and its allies often operate from civilian areas, including schools and hospitals, embedding within these zones.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have taken refuge in Gaza’s schools, which have ceased regular operations since the war began 10 months ago.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, advised Washington to end its “unconditional support” for Israel, which he claims results in the deaths of countless civilians, including children, women, and the elderly.
The airstrike was condemned by Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia as ceasefire talks were being pushed forward. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri stated that the strike should mark a turning point in the conflict.
Egypt accused Israel of having no intention of ending the war, while Qatar labeled the strike as a “horrific massacre”.
The U.S., Egypt, and Qatar have planned another round of ceasefire negotiations amid growing concerns of a broader conflict involving Iran and Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has affirmed that the war will continue until Hamas no longer threatens Israel.
Israel’s offensive followed a deadly October 7th attack by Hamas, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and over 250 taken hostage.
Almost 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since, with health officials reporting that most of the casualties are civilians, though Israel maintains that at least a third are fighters.