In a strike carried out by Israel, at least 28 Palestinians, as reported by the Red Crescent, lost their lives in a central Gaza school.
The assault on the Rafidah school left at least 54 Palestinians wounded, as per the Red Crescent's statement. Regarding fatalities, hospital personnel have confirmed the toll.
Israel's military declared they assaulted "terrorists operating within a command and control center" situated in the school complex, insisting various safeguards were implemented to shield civilians. However, CNN cannot corroborate this claim independently.
The incident on Thursday represents the most recent instance of a school in Gaza being targeted. In the past month, an Israeli strike on a school compound near Gaza city claimed at least 22 lives, predominantly women and children, as stated by Palestinian authorities. Israel asserted they were targeting Hamas militants in hiding.
In August, local inhabitants mentioned that over 90 individuals perished in an Israeli assault on a school and mosque in Al-Tabi’in compound located in Al-Daraj neighborhood's eastern sector of Gaza City, where displaced individuals were taking refuge. Israel acknowledged carrying out the strike, claiming it aimed at a Hamas command post and eliminated several fighters.
Israel has reinitiated military operations in certain areas of Gaza, cited reasons of curbing Hamas' attempts at reorganization, and ordered evacuations of numerous neighborhoods across the confined region.
The recent strike transpired amidst Gaza's health ministry reporting over 42,000 deaths in the stricken territory due to the conflict commencing a year back, following Hamas' attacks on October 7. As Israel persists with offensive operations into Lebanon and mulls an attack on Iran, it goes on with ground operations.
CNN's Dana Karni in Tel Aviv and Nadeen Ebrahim in Abu Dhabi provided reporting contributions.
The Middle East has once again become a focal point of global concern, with the world watching developments in Gaza closely. Despite Israel's claims of safeguarding civilians during military operations, schools in Gaza continue to be affected, such as the recent assault on a school compound.
