31 killed in Israeli attack on Gaza field hospital in school housing displaced Palestinians

At least 31 Palestinians, including children, were killed and many others injured on Saturday in an Israeli attack on a field hospital located in a school for displaced people in the central Gaza Strip, Anadolu Agency reported quoting sources.

“The death toll from Israel’s attack on a field hospital inside a school housing displaced people in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza has risen to 31,” said Ismail Al-Thawabta, spokesman for the Gaza government media office, in a statement to Anadolu.

The Israeli army reported that its fighter jets targeted the Khadija school in the central Gaza Strip, claiming the attack was aimed at Hamas members.

There was no immediate response from Hamas regarding the Israeli claims.

Earlier, the Gaza government media office described the incident as a “new massacre,” stating, “The Israeli occupation army committed a new massacre by bombing a field hospital set up inside Khadija School in Deir al-Balah in the Central Governorate.”

“The occupation bombed the hospital with three missiles from fighter jets, resulting in the deaths of 18 people and dozens of injuries,” it added.

Medical sources informed Anadolu that the Israeli army bombed the school in an area designated as a “humanitarian safe zone” in Deir al-Balah.

Since an October 7 cross-border attack by Hamas, Israel has killed over 39,000 Palestinians. These actions have led to a humanitarian disaster and an ongoing genocide trial at the International Court of Justice.