A tragic event unfolded on Thursday as an Israeli airstrike hit a school-turned shelter for displaced individuals in the Nuseirat refugee camp of central Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 16 Palestinians, including an 11-month-old baby, according to a local medical facility. However, the Israeli military claims that the school was being utilized by Hamas as a operations center.

According to the Israeli military, Hamas was using the Shuhadaa al-Nuseirat, also known as “Martyrs School,” for planning strikes against Israeli forces.

Nuseirat’s Al-Awda hospital reported that over 32 individuals sustained injuries during the assault, while Gaza’s Hamas administration announced that at least 17 people were confirmed dead, with 42 others hurt.

In a statement, the Gaza government insisted that the military was aware that the school was sheltering thousands of displaced individuals, mostly children and women who had fled their bombed neighborhoods.

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∎ Hezbollah announced on Wednesday that it has intensified its rocket assaults on Israel, utilizing precision-guided missiles for the first time.

∎ Representatives from 70 nations and 15 international organizations convened in Paris on Thursday to gather funds for humanitarian relief, to express support for the stretched military of Lebanon, and to advocate for peace.

Al Jazeera refutes claims its reporters are militants

The prominent Qatar-based media outlet, Al Jazeera, denied on Thursday accusations from the Israeli military that six of its Palestinian reporters in Gaza were involved with Hamas or other militant entities. The channel criticized Israel for trying to suppress journalistic freedom.

“Al Jazeera condemns the unfounded allegations against its journalists in Gaza and warns that such claims could be used to target them,” the organization stated.

The Israeli military produced documents it claims demonstrate the ties between the reporters and militant groups, which Al Jazeera allegedly attempted to deny. These documents, according to the military, contain personnel lists, records of combat training, contact directories, and payment documents that “clearly indicate their roles as military operatives for terrorist organizations” in Gaza.

29 Israelis were killed by Hezbollah in the last year

According to the Alma Research and Education Center, a think tank in Israel, at least 29 Israeli civilians have died from Hezbollah attacks targeting northern Israel over the past year.

The Israeli military reported on Thursday that its “forces are conducting limited, focused ground operations” against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, which commenced three weeks prior in an effort to enhance security in northern Israel. The Israeli air force announced it has struck more than 160 Hezbollah targets, including launch sites and operational infrastructure throughout Lebanon. Tens of thousands of Israelis have been evacuating the region since nearly a year ago, following the escalation of rocket attacks by Hezbollah amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.