The Civil Defense in Gaza announced today that an Israeli bombardment against a school hosting displaced persons in Gaza City has claimed the lives of 22 peoplemost of them women and childrenaccording to Gaza’s health ministry with the Israeli military saying it targeted militants from the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, who were hiding there.

Separately, the Government Media Office in Gaza reported that 20 of the dead were women and children: 13 children, six women and a 3-month-old infant. Thirty people were injured, the office added, including 9 children who required amputations and others who suffered severe burns.

The Israeli military said earlier today that the compound used as a Hamas command center and that precautions had been taken to avoid civilian casualties. In particular, the Israeli army made it known in a press release that it “conducted a targeted strike against terrorists who were operating from inside a Hamas command and control center in Gaza City”, specifying that the target was “inside” the Al school Falah, which is located next to the Al Zaitoun school buildings.

Al Zaitoun school was hit, an AFP reporter at the scene found.

The Israeli military added that it had taken “measures to mitigate the risk of civilian casualties,” particularly through the use of high-precision weapons.