At least 30 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed in an Israeli air strike on a school in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, which served as a refuge for around 4,000 people. The school also housed a field hospital, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza government.
The Israeli military claimed that the attack targeted a Hamas command centre and weapons storage facility inside the school. In response to the attack, the Israeli army issued new evacuation orders for civilians in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, citing the significant terrorist activity and rocket attacks from the area.
This has led to the displacement of over 180,000 Palestinians. The United Nations has condemned the mass displacement and attacks on 'safe zones' and criticized the evacuation orders and attacks.
The conflict, which has been ongoing for over 9 months, was triggered by a Hamas attack on Israel in October last year. So far, over 39,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza.
The situation has caused a humanitarian crisis, with food shortages leading to reduced rations by the World Food Programme. Negotiations for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange are taking place in Rome, involving the United States, Israel, Qatar, and Egypt.
