Written By Lisa Murimi
Israeli air strikes on two schools in Gaza City have reportedly resulted in the deaths of dozens of people, including displaced individuals seeking shelter at the facilities.
Palestinian rescuers and news outlets have reported that at least 30 people were killed in the strikes, with many victims being women and children.
Some casualties are believed to be buried under the rubble.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the air strikes, stating they targeted Hamas “command and control centres” located within the schools.
The IDF claimed that Hamas’s al-Furqan Battalion used these schools as hideouts and command centres for planning attacks against Israeli troops and the state of Israel.
The attacks on al-Nasr and Hassan Salama schools on Sunday were part of a series of recent strikes on educational institutions in Gaza.
Earlier this week, an air strike on Hamama School killed at least 17 people, and another on Dalal al-Mughrabi School resulted in 15 deaths.
Palestinian Civil Defence has condemned the strikes as “a massacre,” while the IDF maintains it aims to minimise civilian casualties.
The violence follows an escalation that began on October 7, triggered by a large-scale Hamas attack on Israel.
