Nine people were killed and dozens more injured in an Israeli attack on a school building in Gaza City, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Tuesday.
The target of the bombardment was a school building housing displaced people, the report said. The Israeli army stated that the Palestinian militant organization Hamas had hidden a command centre on the premises, which was the target of the attack.
“Hamas terrorists used the command and control centre to plan and execute attacks,” the military further stated. The attacks had been directed against soldiers and the state of Israel. In order to protect the civilian population, precise ammunition was used, and the area was surveilled from the air, the army said.
“The Hamas terrorist organization systematically violates international law and operates from civilian infrastructure and shelters in the Gaza Strip,” the army further stated.
The claims from both sides could not be independently verified initially.
Just one and a half weeks ago, an airstrike on a school building used as a refugee shelter caused international shock and criticism. According to Palestinians, dozens of people were killed in the attack. The Israeli military expressed doubts about these figures and also spoke of a Hamas command centre located in the targeted building.
