At least 44 killed as Israeli airstrikes hit schools and hospital in Gaza

An Israeli airstrike on Sunday targeted two schools in Gaza City, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 people, according to Palestinian officials. The Israeli military stated that it struck a Hamas military compound situated within the schools.

Earlier in the day, an Israeli strike on a tent camp inside a hospital in central Gaza led to further casualties, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed on Sunday to at least 44, as reported by Gaza health officials. This surge in violence occurred after a round of negotiations in Cairo ended without any resolution.

The Israeli military claimed it targeted fighters operating within a Hamas command embedded in the schools and took measures to minimise civilian casualties. Israel has long accused Hamas of embedding its operations within civilian areas, effectively using the population as human shields, a claim that Hamas denies.

Earlier, an Israeli airstrike at the Al-Aqsa Hospital compound in Deir Al-Balah ignited a fire, injuring at least 18 people and killing five, according to medical authorities. The Israeli military asserted that it targeted a fighter in the area, noting that secondary explosions suggested the presence of weapons.

The hospital compound, located in a densely populated area housing thousands of people displaced from other parts of Gaza, became a flashpoint in the ongoing conflict.

Additional Israeli strikes in Deir Al-Balah resulted in three Palestinian deaths when a missile hit a house. Separate attacks in Jabalia camp in northern Gaza City claimed eight lives in one home, while another strike killed three individuals in a car.

Residents in areas southeast of Khan Younis and north of Rafah, previously sites of intense fighting, reported receiving evacuation orders from the Israeli military. The Israeli army posted messages on social media platform X, instructing residents of these districts to move towards designated humanitarian zones, warning of imminent military action against militants in those areas.

In Israel, sirens sounded in Ashdod as five rockets were launched from southern Gaza. While no injuries were reported, Hamas stated that the rocket attack was in retaliation for what it described as Israeli "massacres against civilians."

Israel is preparing for a potential escalation following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday. This incident followed an Israeli strike in Beirut that killed Fuad Shukr, a prominent military commander from the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned to convene special security discussions on Sunday evening, as threats of retaliation from Iran and Hezbollah loomed. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant indicated that plans were underway to respond decisively to any attacks from Iran and its allies.

"Our defence readiness is high, both on the ground and in the air. We are prepared for a swift response or attack. If they dare to attack us, they will pay a heavy price," Gallant stated.

Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of being behind Haniyeh's assassination and have vowed retaliation. While Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in his death, Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has also pledged revenge for the killing of Shukr.

The ongoing conflict was ignited by Hamas' attack on southern Israel on 7 October, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and 250 hostages taken to Gaza, according to Israeli reports.

Since the beginning of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, the Gaza Health Ministry has reported at least 39,550 Palestinian deaths, although it does not differentiate between fighters and civilians. Palestinian health officials claim that the majority of those killed have been civilians.