Scores killed as Israel bombs schools, houses across Gaza

At least 56 people have been killed and dozens injured in Israeli strikes across Gaza since Thursday morning, medical sources say.

Wafa news agency, citing local and medical sources, said at least 32 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza City and Khan Younis. 

Israeli airstrikes hit a cluster of houses in central Gaza’s al-Bureij camp, and the nearby al-Nuseirat camp. Nuseirat and Bureij are among the densely populated enclave’s eight historic camps.

Israeli aircraft also bombed a house in the heart of Gaza City in the north, while another airstrike hit the southern city of Khan Younis, according to medics.

Later on Thursday, 15 Palestinians were killed and 30 injured in Israeli bombings of two schools east of Gaza City, the territory’s Civil Emergency Service said in a statement.

Dozens of Palestinian families were seen fleeing the eastern neighborhoods of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, as documented by activists and Palestinian media outlets.

This followed renewed forced displacement orders by the Israeli military issued in anticipation of a possible military onslaught. 

They were instructed to head to the so-called humanitarian zone in al-Mawasi, which has previously been subject to deadly Israeli attacks.

Central and southern parts of Gaza remain the focal points of the Israeli bombing and shelling campaign in recent days.

On Thursday, dozens of Palestinians rushed into Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis to bid farewell to slain relatives before carrying them away for burials.

A media footage showed relatives moving out the bodies of their loved ones in plastic bags with names written on them, and holding special prayers before the funerals.

In Gaza City, the Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that the casualties were transferred to the al-Ahli Arab Hospital.