Hamas says Israeli airstrike on Gaza school kills more than 100

The Hamas-controlled Gaza government said on Saturday that Israel had launched an airstrike on a school housing displaced people in Gaza, killing more than 100 Palestinians and injuring dozens. The Israeli military said the airstrike targeted Hamas’ command center.

The Hamas press office said in a statement that the attack occurred during dawn prayers for people who had taken refuge in a school, causing heavy casualties. The statement said that medical staff had not yet been able to reach all the victims.

Gaza health authorities have not yet issued any updates.

The Israeli military said in a statement that its air force attacked a command and control center where Hamas commanders and members were hiding.

The military said it had taken steps to reduce the risk of harming civilians, “including the use of precision munitions, aerial surveillance and intelligence information.” There was no immediate comment from the military on the reports of casualties in Gaza.

According to Israeli statistics, Hamas militants invaded southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and taking 250 hostages. Israel then launched an offensive on the Gaza Strip aimed at eliminating Hamas.

Since then, the Israeli offensive on Gaza has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Health officials said most of the deaths were civilians. Israel lost 329 people in the Gaza Strip, and said at least a third of the Palestinian deaths were militants.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar are trying to restart ceasefire talks in Gaza, with a new round planned for Thursday as fears grow of a wider conflict involving Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah. Tehran also supports Hamas.