Targeting Military Operatives in Educational Compounds
According to reporting from the Times of Israel, the military operation focused precisely on three classrooms inside the compound where roughly thirty operatives from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad had convened. Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated that the strike aimed at members of the elite Nukhba unit of Hamas alongside Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters who were actively directing attacks from the school and preparing imminent strikes against Israelis.
Surveillance Measures and Operational Delays
As documented by the Times of Israel , the military postponed the operation on two separate occasions after detecting uninvolved civilians in the surrounding area. The Jewish Virtual Library noted that the compound was being exploited as an operations hub and meeting location, with the armed groups utilizing the humanitarian facility as a shield. The military subsequently confirmed the deaths of nine identified terrorists who were killed during the targeted strike.
Civilian Casualties and International Reactions
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital initially reported that casualties from the strike on the school included nine women and 14 children. In response to the event, international representatives voiced sharp criticism. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, asserted on social media that the compound was struck without prior warning, while United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric delivered a statement of condemnation on behalf of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Additionally, European Union foreign policy representative Josep Borrell urged an independent investigation into the strike.
Terrorist Exploitation of Protected Shelters
Addressing the diplomatic backlash and media coverage, Hagari stated that international organizations and journalists were uncritically repeating assertions from Hamas authorities without acknowledging the military exploitation of humanitarian shelters. He highlighted that this operation marked the fifth instance within a single month where the military identified and engaged armed fighters operating directly out of agency properties. In Washington, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller noted that the United States maintained confidence in assessments that Hamas regularly embeds its fighters within civilian infrastructure, while requesting transparency from Israel regarding the tactical execution of the strike.