An Israeli airstrike has killed at least seven people at a school where displaced families have taken refuge in the city of Gaza today, Palestinian health officials said, with the Israeli military saying it was targeting militants operating through the compound.

The strike against the Kafr Qassem school in the Beach camp was carried out around 11 a.m. local time, officials said. Among those killed was Majed Salehthe director of Hamas’ Ministry of Public Works and Housing, they added.

For its part, Israeli IDF forces announced that they conducted a precision strike against terrorists who were using the former school to launch attacks.

“It is yet another example of the Hamas terrorist organization’s systematic abuse of political infrastructure in violation of international law,” wrote the IDF in their Telegram network.

As they pointed out, Israeli forces they have taken a number of measures to reduce the risk to civilians, but “will continue to act against terrorist organizations that use schools and civilian facilities as a safe haven”.

Six more Palestinians were killed in separate airstrikes in central and southern Gaza, according to medics, who put the number of Palestinians killed so far today in Israeli strikes at 16.

In Rafah, near Gaza’s border with Egypt, residents report that Israeli tanks are advancing towards the western part of the city, where the army has been operating since May.