CNN
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At least 22 people, mostly women and children, were killed Saturday in an Israeli strike on a school compound, Palestinian officials said, with Israel saying it targeted Hamas fighters who had taken refuge there.
A spokesman for the Gaza Civil Defense, Mahmoud Basal, said the missile hit the Al-Zaytoun school near Gaza City, where thousands of people had taken refuge.
The government media office in Gaza said 13 children, including a three-month-old baby, were killed. Other children had to have limbs amputated, the government media office said.
The Israeli military said the compound was being used as a Hamas command center and that precautions were being taken to avoid civilian casualties.
Aircraft “carried out a precise strike on terrorists operating inside a Hamas command and control center in Gaza City,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.
“The command and control center, which was integrated into a compound that previously served as the Al Falah school, was used by Hamas terrorists to plan and execute terrorist attacks.”
CNN was unable to verify whether Hamas members were present at the compound. The Israeli military has often accused Hamas of using schools and hospitals to direct its operations.
A CNN reporter who filmed the events said Civil Defense workers said at least 20 people were killed. Videos from the scene showed scores of casualties as rescuers scrambled through the debris.
A woman who was staying at the school told CNN: “There was no warning. We were sitting in the schools and suddenly the missiles started raining down on us. There was no warning. Where is the conscience?”
The woman, who did not give her name, added: “My message is that this war and bloodshed must wake you up. You are all numb and feel nothing… No schools, no hospitals, no food, no water. Shame on you.”
A young girl who gave her name as Amal and who was also at the school asked: “What have we children done to wake up and fall asleep in fear? At least let’s stop bombing schools. We have no schools, no homes – where should we go?”
“Everyone was martyred, all were martyred, torn to pieces,” she said.
“The Arab countries are afraid and do not want to intervene. Why are you afraid? What is our fault? Call for a truce and put an end to all this. What is wrong with you?” Amal asked.
As tensions escalate between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Israel continues to operate in Gaza where it seeks to destroy Hamas after the October 7 attacks, claiming responsibility for the deaths of a prominent Hamas member and several other fighters.
The Israeli military also said Saturday that its troops had recently detected “armed militants” stealing a truck of humanitarian aid in the Rafah area, without giving a date.
While securing the humanitarian route, troops identified armed militants who were stealing a truck of humanitarian aid. In a swift operation, troops directed drones that located the militants fleeing in a car, and they were eliminated by Israeli Air Force jets.
The security of humanitarian convoys is a problem for aid agencies, with looting being common.
