A Palestinian lady gestures in the courtyard of a school following an Israeli bombardment in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, on Wednesday. According to reports from area hospitals, at least 34 persons were murdered.

An Israeli bomb struck a United Nations school in central Gaza on Wednesday, killing at least 34 people, including 19 women and children, according to hospital officials. The strike targeted the al-Jaouni Boys Preparatory School in the Nuseirat refugee camp, which was housing displaced Palestinian families, according to officials. The Israeli military said it was targeting Hamas militants who were reportedly preparing assaults from inside the school. This allegation was not independently verified.

An Israeli bomb attacked a United Nations school in central Gaza on Wednesday, killing at least 34 people, including 19 women and children, hospital authorities said. According to officials, the strike targeted the al-Jaouni Boys Preparatory School in the Nuseirat refugee camp, which is home to displaced Palestinian families. The Israeli military said it was targeting Hamas militants who were allegedly planning attacks from within the school. This accusation was not independently confirmed.

During the continuing conflict, the al-Jaouni Boys Preparatory School, which is managed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), has been targeted several times. Schools in Gaza, which are regularly used as shelters by tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians, have been frequent targets. Israel said that Hamas members used these facilities for military purposes. It blames Hamas for civilian losses in its strikes, claiming that its fighters base and operate among civilians. According to a survey conducted by the Education Cluster, which includes UNICEF and Save the Children, more than 90% of Gaza’s school buildings have been damaged, with more than half of the schools serving as shelters for displaced persons also being affected.

The al-Jaouni Boys Preparatory School, sponsored by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), has been repeatedly targeted during the ongoing conflict. Schools in Gaza, which serve as refuge for tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians, have been frequent targets. Israel said that Hamas members utilised the facility for military reasons. It blames Hamas for civilian casualties in its airstrikes, stating that its forces are based and operate among civilians. According to a survey undertaken by the Education Cluster, which includes UNICEF and Save the Children, more than 90% of Gaza’s school buildings have been damaged, with more than half of the schools that serve as shelters for displaced people also affected.

Two Israeli troops died overnight in a helicopter crash over the Gaza Strip, while on a mission to take an injured soldier to a hospital.

The Israeli army claimed in a statement that the “Yanshuf” – the Hebrew name for the Black Hawk chopper – crashed while landing near Rafah, in southern Gaza. Both troops were reserve members of the Israeli Air Force’s elite Special Tactics Rescue Unit 669. Seven additional soldiers were injured in the collision, including two pilots and two other reservists from the same battalion. This is the first aerial crash the Israel Defence Forces have experienced in the Palestinian area since the beginning of the conflict against Hamas about one yeat ago.

According to a statement, a first enquiry by the IDF revealed that the occurrence was not caused by a “enemy attack,” although an investigation is underway. According to the IAF’s website, the Black Hawk first saw service 20 years ago as an IAF transport helicopter for rescue and evacuation of the wounded, as well as tactical operations. In a second statement, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari announced late Tuesday that Israel had beaten the last Hamas battalion in Rafah and had achieved its mission to destroy the militant group’s last active brigade.

Despite international criticism, Israel deployed ground forces in Rafah, near the Egyptian border, in May.