Israeli airstrikes early Sunday morning targeted a mosque and a school in the central Gaza Strip, killing at least 24 people and injuring 93 others, according to the Hamas-run Gaza government’s media office. The strikes hit areas near Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, where displaced civilians were taking shelter.
The Israeli military confirmed the strikes, stating they were aimed at Hamas operatives using command and control centers embedded within the Ibn Rushd School and the Shuhada al-Aqsa Mosque in the same area.
This escalation is part of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages.
In response, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has resulted in nearly 42,000 Palestinian deaths, with millions displaced, a growing hunger crisis, and genocide allegations—claims Israel has strongly denied. The conflict is nearing its one-year mark, with no clear resolution in sight.