Dozens killed in Israeli strike on alleged Hamas militay center in school

Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Israel Defense Forces early Saturday morning struck an alleged Hamas command center located inside a school complex that also houses a mosque, killing dozens.

The Gaza-run Health Ministry ministry reported at least 100 people died and hundreds were injured during early morning prayers at the Al-Tabi'in school in the Daraj neighborhood of Gaza. Israel Defense Forces said far fewer were killed and they were Hamas militants.

"This attack is part of a pattern of daily atrocities committed by Israeli occupation forces in Gaza and the West Bank," the self-proclaimed presidency of the state of Palestine posted on X.

The post said President Joe Biden's administration is responsible for the "massacre" due to its support of Israel.

A spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council in a prepared statement Saturday said White House officials are "deeply concerned" by the reports of civilian casualties caused by the airstrike and seek more information regarding airstrikes targeting senior Hamas officials.

"We know Hamas has been using schools as locations to gather and operate out of," NSC spokesman Sean Savett said, "but we have also said repeatedly and consistently that Israel must take measures to minimize civilian harm."

Savett said "far too many civilians continue to be killed and wounded," which "underscores the urgency of a cease-fire and hostage deal, which we work tirelessly to achieve."

IDF officials said the Health Ministry numbers "do not align with the information held by the IDF, the precise munitions used, and the accuracy of the strike. The IDF continues to examine and calls on the media to act with caution about information released by Hamas sources, as they have been proven to be sorely unreliable."

The IDF said they struck a command room set up inside the school where Palestinian civilians sought shelter and an estimated 20 militants, including Hamas commanders, were inside the room when the airstrike occurred.

The IDF said Israeli intelligence determined the school complex housed a command center within its mosque and used aerial surveillance and smart weapons to strike the command center.

Israeli forces used three "precision munitions" to take out the alleged command center embedded inside a room located inside a mosque in the school complex, the IDF said.

Video footage recorded after the military strike shows the surrounding school complex did not suffer any major damage and the missiles used could not have caused the number of casualties claimed by Hamas.

The IDF also released the names and photos of 19 Hamas militants it said died in the airstrike.

Hamas officials denied having a command center inside the school.

The multinational NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence said Hamas has used human shields in conflicts with Israel since 2007 in violation of international law.

The IDF also reported its forces killed senior Hamas commander Walid al-Sousi in an airstrike in Gaza on Friday night.

Al-Sousi led Hamas' General Security Apparatus in southern Gaza and managed intelligence while suppressing opposition to Hamas' control of Gaza.

The IDF reported Israeli Air Force jets and the Israel Military Intelligence Directorate targeted al-Sousi.