AN IDF airstrike devastated a school in Gaza, leaving at least 30 Palestinians dead, health officials say.
The Israeli military claims to have blown up the building in Deir al Balah, in central Gaza, when it was used as a command center for Hamas terrorists.
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Harrowing footage shows the damage caused by the blast with rubble from crumbling buildings seen surrounded by hundreds of Palestinians.
Wrecked cars can also be seen outside the Khadija girls’ school, which is covered in colorful paintings.
The affected area is believed to be one of the most populated places in Gaza, with hundreds of displaced families being moved there after months of fighting.
The Gaza Ministry of Health also claims that more than 100 people were injured.
The Israeli military released a statement after the precise strike, saying it targeted a “Hamas command and control center inside the Khadija school complex in central Gaza.”
The statement added that the school was being used to launch attacks against Israeli soldiers as well as a weapons depot.
The IDF says it has warned civilians of the impending strikes and told them to evacuate to the nearby al Mawasi area as they were expected to “operate by force” in the area.
The offensive was in response to recent rocket fire from central Gaza, the IDF announced.
Moments after the airstrike, ambulances were rushed to help the injured.
Hundreds of people were taken to Al-Aqsa Hospital for treatment, and many were forced to walk to the medical center covered in blood.
Israel It has consistently criticized Hamas in the past for establishing its terrorist operations in crowded areas, such as schools or hospitals, to purposefully cause civilian deaths.
The militant group denies doing so.
More than 39,000 Palestinians were killed by Israelis strikes since the war started on October 7th, let’s say Gaza health employees.
Israel has repeatedly targeted Hamas terrorist hideouts since the Islamist group invaded Gaza, massacring 1,200 Israelis.
More than 200 people were also kidnapped and taken hostage.
Since then, most of the hostages have been returned to their loved ones and some are still held captive.
Israel says it will continue to attack Hamas until the organization is completely wiped out, amid fears it could continue to rebuild and attack again in the future.
The Israeli government has been widely criticized in recent months for its hard-line approach to the war.
Many people claim they are not doing enough to limit the number of deaths – a suggestion they have repeatedly denied.
It comes at a time when ongoing negotiations on a ceasefire in Gaza continue to prove fruitless, with both sides disagreeing on several points.
Netanyahu’s visit to the US
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a controversial visit to Washington, where he met with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
Netanyahu’s visit to the US was overshadowed by scenes of violence, vandalism and protests against the conflict.
Protesters were seen burning the American flag and building anti-Semitic effigies of the Israeli leader.
Thousands of people were seen outside the PM’s hotel, as well as around the White House, holding signs calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Biden was the first person to welcome Netanyahu as the pair spoke at the White House.
Policy expert Jonathan Dekel-Chen reacted to the meeting and said CNN: “We feel more optimistic than we have since the first round of releases in late November, early December.
“We have gotten an absolute commitment from President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu that they understand the urgency of this moment right now.
“And not waste time. And complete this deal as it currently stands, with as few changes as humanly possible.”
vice president Kamala Harris said he had a “frank and constructive” meeting with Netanyahu, saying he supports Israel’s right to defend itself, but added: “how important this is.”
Harris was concerned about the “devastating” crisis in Gaza with images of dead civilians, saying: “We cannot look away from these tragedies.”
On the prime minister’s final visit, he spoke with former leader Donald Trump about what could happen if the Republican wins in November.
Netanyahu visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, as the two sought to mend their relationship after years of division.
Trump began the meeting by telling reporters there could be a big war if he doesn’t win the election this fall.
“If we win, it will be very simple. Everything will work out very quickly,” Trump said, according to The hill.
“If we don’t do so, we will end up with major wars in the Middle East and perhaps a third world war.
“We are closer to a Third World War right now than at any time since the Second World War. We have never been so close, because we have incompetent people running our country.”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
