The IDF is dismissing Palestinian claims regarding the strike at the school where 19 Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives were killed. Additionally, the IDF states that it is possible Ashraf Judeh, the GIA battalion commander, was present at the military headquarters in the ‘Al-Taba’een’ school that was attacked. It is still unclear if he was affected by the strike.
In a statement to the foreign media, IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Dani Hagari said, among other things: "Since the beginning of the war, the terrorist organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad have systematically exploited the civilian population and infrastructure in Gaza for terrorism against the State of Israel. They do this through a massive network of underground tunnels passing under villages, hospitals, mosques, schools, and UN facilities, used by terrorists to command attacks, store weapons, and hold Israeli captives. This includes hospitals throughout the Gaza Strip, which Hamas and Islamic Jihad have repeatedly infiltrated and used for military purposes, and which have been found to contain terror tunnel shafts.
In recent weeks, our intelligence has closely monitored an active Hamas and Islamic Jihad military facility where approximately 24 militants from these groups operated. Today, we released the names of 19 of the terrorists who operated within this facility. We also have intelligence indications that the terrorist Ashraf Judeh, commander of the GIA’s Central Camps Brigade, was in the facility. This military facility was embedded within the ‘Al-Taba’een’ school building in Gaza City. After receiving clear intelligence about the threat posed by the terrorists and in accordance with international law, we took numerous steps to minimize the risk to civilians, including using aerial surveillance before the strike and choosing highly precise munitions to prevent civilian casualties. Earlier on Shabbat (Saturday) morning, the IDF carried out a precise strike against the terrorists in one specific building within the complex, in an area where, according to our intelligence, no women or children were present.
In a video published by us today, it can be seen that the complex remains intact, with no significant craters or damage to the main building. This pattern of systematic use of schools for military activities by Hamas and Islamic Jihad endangers both Gaza and Israeli civilians and should be condemned by the international community.
Following the strike, the Hamas-run Gaza government’s Information Office released unverified casualty figures, which have been shared worldwide. These figures do not distinguish between terrorists and civilians and do not match the information held by the IDF."
