At least 30 people have died following an Israeli airstrike on a school in the Gaza Strip, where displaced families had been sheltering, according to Palestinian health officials. The strike, which occurred in central Gaza at the Khadija girls’ school in Deir al Balah, also left around 100 people injured.

The school, situated in an area densely populated with displaced families, was reportedly being used as a Hamas command centre, according to the Israeli military. Israeli authorities have stated that the location was involved in launching attacks against Israeli troops and was also used as a weapons cache. Prior to the airstrike, warnings were allegedly issued to civilians.

Casualties from the strike have been transported to the nearby al-Aqsa Hospital. The incident has escalated tensions in the region, drawing international attention to the plight of civilians caught in the conflict. The international community continues to respond to the developments with calls for restraint and protection of civilians.