From Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza Strip, reports are emerging of an Israeli raid on a school area where several people have been killed.
At least 31 people, including several children, have been killed in an Israeli air raid on Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza Strip, according to several media outlets, citing the Hamas-controlled health department. Over 100 people are reported to have been injured in the attack.
According to Palestinian authorities, the school housed around 4,000 Palestinian refugees.
The Israeli army claims that the school area was used by terrorist-stamped Hamas, among other things, to store weapons, writes Haaretz. According to the army, armed Hamas fighters were killed in the attack.
Planning operation
At the same time, the Israeli military is planning an operation in the area around Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, where they say Hamas fighters are located. The area also has a provisional tent camp where thousands of Palestinians are seeking shelter from Israeli bombs.
The order comes as a response to rocket fire that Israel claims has been launched from the area. Khan Yunis has been the focus of a new Israeli military offensive, which according to Israel is aimed at combating "Hamas' efforts to reassemble its forces there".
Second evacuation
This is the second evacuation in a week in the area. Around 170 people have been killed and hundreds have been injured since Monday, according to figures from the Hamas-controlled health department. Heavy fighting is ongoing in the area and the UN confirms that more than 180,000 people have fled the area during the same period.
The area is part of a 60 square kilometer "humanitarian zone" where Israel has told Palestinians to flee during the entire war. A large part of the area is covered by tent camps and around 1.8 million Palestinians are taking shelter there, according to Israel's estimates.
The Israeli army claims in a statement that the military has "eliminated several terrorists" during its operation in the area.
Many Palestinians have repeatedly been forced to leave their homes, trying to reach safety during the war that broke out after Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on October 7.
