The IDF confirmed it struck a UNRWA school in the Nuseirat Refugee Camp in the Gaza Strip early on Thursday morning.
The IDF claimed that the school was being used as a base for Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters, in particular terrorists that participated in the October 7 massacre.
Members of Hamas’s elite Nukhba force were also present at the site.
Terror attacks were directed from the school while being used by terrorists as a shelter due to the school’s civilian nature, according to the IDF.
The IDF also claimed that there was an immediate threat of continued attacks by the cell hiding in the school.
Civilian casualties despite evacuation
Commenting on the civilian evacuations, the IDF said, “Before the attack, many steps were taken to reduce the chance of harm to those not involved. As part of those efforts, aerial reconnaissance, precise targeting, and additional intelligence information were used [to identify the target].”
The Hamas-run Gaza Government Media Office said that at least 27 people were killed and dozens injured, as reported by Reuters.
There was no immediate confirmation by the Gaza Health Ministry, Reuters could not immediately verify the announcement.
Reuters contributed to this report.
This is a developing story.
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