In Hamas-run Gaza, the health ministry reported that 30 people were killed in an Israeli strike on a school on Saturday, following a military operation in the south that resulted in around 170 deaths, according to emergency services.
This latest strike, deemed by Israel as targeting “terrorists”, marks the eighth time since July 6 that a school has been struck in Gaza, leading to over 100 fatalities based on health ministry and hospital sources.
As most of Gaza’s 2.4 million inhabitants have been displaced during the conflict initiated by Hamas, many have sought refuge in schools, including the one hit on Saturday.
The health ministry confirmed “30 martyrs and over 100 wounded” as a result of the strike on Khadija school in Deir el-Balah.
Israel stated that Palestinian militants were using the compound as a hideout.
In the Khan Yunis area further south, around 170 people have been killed and hundreds wounded in an Israeli operation since Monday, as reported by Gaza’s civil defence agency.
Fears of a broader regional conflict escalated with exchanges between Hezbollah, a Hamas ally in Lebanon, and Israeli forces resulting in casualties in the Golan Heights.
Hezbollah denied responsibility for the attack, blaming several Israeli military sites for aggression after an air raid in southern Lebanon.
– Aid Effort ‘Destabilised’ –
Israel had warned of forceful operations in Khan Yunis, where troops later retrieved five bodies. Evacuation orders have been issued, causing further displacement as the conflict continues.
The UN has reported dire conditions in Gaza, with aid efforts destabilized due to intensified hostilities.
Khan Yunis, previously devastated by fighting, now faces renewed conflict as Israel claims to have eliminated militants in the area.
– ‘End this Madness’ –
The conflict on October 7 resulted in numerous casualties, with ongoing mediation efforts seeking to secure a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages in Gaza.
President Biden called for a deal to be finalized, urging an end to the violence. Israeli protesters also called for the release of remaining hostages.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell emphasized the need for a ceasefire and political solution to end the ongoing violence in Gaza.
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