At least 15 Palestinians killed in Israeli strike on school in Gaza, emergency services say

PHOTO CAPTION: A view of destroyed buildings in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from southern Israel August 1, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

(Reuters) -Israeli forces hit a school in Shejaia in Gaza City on Thursday, killing at least 15 people and wounding 29, Palestinian civil emergency services said, as fighting continued in various parts of the Gaza Strip.

The military said it had targeted fighters operating in a compound within the school that it said was used as a hideout for Hamas commanders and fighters.

"Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, surveillance, and additional intelligence," it said in a statement.

It gave no information on any casualties but accused Hamas of deliberately operating in civilian infrastructure. Hamas denies using civilian facilities such as hospitals and schools for military purposes.

(Reporting by Nidal al Mughrabi and Ali Sawafta; Editing by Gareth Jones and Alex Richardson)