No fewer than 33 Palestinians lost their lives and more than 100 wounded in Israeli air attacks on two schools housing displaced people in the Tuffah neighbourhood of Gaza City, according to local officials.
Gaza’s Government Media Office said in a statement that 29 people – including 18 children – were killed and more than 100 were injured when Israeli air raids hit the Dar al-Arqam School-turned-shelter on Thursday.
The school was hit with at least four missiles, a Civil Defence spokesperson said.
Sources told Al Jazeera that at least four people also were killed in an Israeli attack on the Fahd School in Gaza City, which was also sheltering displaced families.
The Israeli military said it struck a command centre in Gaza City that had been used by Hamas fighters to plan and execute attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers. It was unclear whether it was the same attack that targeted a school.
Israeli forces have routinely targeted shelters in the Gaza Strip that house displaced families who have nowhere to flee and remain trapped in the besieged enclave, which is being heavily bombarded.
Medical sources told Al Jazeera that at least 100 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since dawn on Thursday with 58 people killed in Gaza City and many others killed in attacks on the southern city of Khan Younis.
In Gaza City, 21 bodies were taken to al-Ahli Arab Hospital, including those of seven children.
