Israeli Airstrike Neutralizes 19 Terrorists Inside Gaza School Mosque

An Israeli airstrike killed 19 terrorists at a Hamas command center inside a Gaza school mosque. The IDF reported no severe collateral damage, contrary to unverified claims from Hamas-run sources, and emphasized measures to protect civilians. Hamas's casualty figures remain unconfirmed.

Jerusalem [Israel], August 11 (ANI/TPS): An Israeli airstrike has neutralized 19 terrorists within a Hamas command center housed in a Gaza City school mosque, according to statements from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday night. The IDF dismissed unverified reports of extensive collateral damage from the strike.

The 19 individuals killed had affiliations with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. To substantiate its claims, the IDF released an infographic identifying each casualty and their respective affiliations. The IDF remarked, 'The Hamas terrorist organization systematically breaches international law by operating within civilian infrastructure, using civilians and public institutions as human shields.'

According to the IDF, the precision strike, executed with three targeted munitions, was incapable of generating the extensive damage reported by the Hamas-run Government Information Office in Gaza. 'Prior to the operation, several preventive measures were taken to minimize civilian risk, including using a small warhead and thorough aerial surveillance,' the IDF stated. Despite Hamas claiming 90 fatalities, this figure has not been independently verified.

There has been a precedent for Hamas and Islamic Jihad utilizing schools for militant purposes, including as command hubs and weapon storage sites. It was reported that Israel had targeted two schools on Thursday that were used by Hamas for conducting attacks. On October 7, at least 1,200 individuals were killed, and 252 hostages were taken during Hamas's assault on Israeli communities near the Gaza border. Out of 111 remaining hostages, 39 have been pronounced dead.