(MENAFN- Khaama Press)
At least 16 people were killed in Gaza when an Israeli strike targeted a school sheltering displaced Palestinian families on Saturday, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
The attack, which Israel claimed targeted militants, resulted in more than 50 wounded individuals, as reported by Reuters.
The Israeli military stated it took precautions to minimize civilian casualties, targeting gunmen who allegedly used the school area as a hideout for planning attacks. Hamas denied the presence of its fighters at the site.
Eyewitness Ayman al-Atouneh described scenes of children among the casualties, highlighting the civilian impact of the strike on what was once a playground area.
Mahmoud Basal from the Gaza Civil Emergency Service warned that the death toll could rise due to critically wounded victims, stating that the attack has left families with nowhere safe to seek shelter in the enclave.
Al-Nuseirat, a historic refugee camp in Gaza, witnessed intensified Israeli bombardment on the same day, including an earlier airstrike on a house that resulted in 10 deaths and numerous injuries, according to medical sources.
The Gaza health ministry reported that in the past 24 hours alone, Israeli military strikes across Gaza led to the deaths of at least 29 Palestinians and wounded 100 others.
Five local journalists were among those killed in separate airstrikes on Saturday, bringing the total number of journalists killed since October to 158, according to Gaza government media sources.
Gaza health authorities estimate that more than 38,000 Palestinians have died in Israel's offensive, with officials noting that most of the casualties are civilians, though the health ministry does not differentiate between combatants and non-combatants.
Israel has reported the loss of 323 soldiers in Gaza, maintaining that a significant portion of Palestinian casualties are fighters aligned with Hamas.
Israeli military operations extended to Deir Al-Balah, where they eliminated a Hamas rocket cell operating from within a humanitarian-designated area, claiming to have taken precautions to avoid civilian casualties. Hamas and Islamic Jihad responded with attacks on Israeli forces using anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs across Gaza.
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