Israeli attacks on Gaza kill at least 25 as tensions rise
A senior Biden administration official called on Israel to double down on Gaza ceasefire negotiations, as the risk of broader regional conflict increases the urgency of reaching a deal with Hamas. Image: Bloomberg
An Israeli airstrike hit two schools in Gaza City on Sunday, killing at least 25 people, the official Palestinian news agency reported. The Israeli military said it had struck a Hamas military compound inside the schools.
An Israeli airstrike earlier in the day hit a tent camp at a hospital in central Gaza. Gaza health officials said at least 44 Palestinians were killed Sunday, a day after a round of talks in Cairo ended inconclusively.
Palestinian media reported images showing bodies strewn across the yard of one of the two schools destroyed by the blast. Residents rushed to carry the victims, including children, and load them into ambulances, which took them to at least two nearby hospitals.
The Palestinian news agency WAFA and Hamas media reported that dozens were injured, in addition to 25 dead in the Hassan Salama and Al-Nasser schools, where Palestinian displaced families lived. They said the strike destroyed several structures in the facilities.
The Israeli military said it had attacked militants in a Hamas command embedded in the schools, and accused Hamas of operating from civilian property. Hamas denies using civilian institutions for military purposes. The Hamas-run government media office said Israel had attacked 172 designated bomb shelters since Oct. 7.
A senior Biden administration official called on Israel to double down on Gaza ceasefire negotiations, saying the risk of a wider regional conflict heightens the urgency of reaching a deal with Hamas.
First print: Aug 04, 2024 | 11:08 PM IST