Israel bombed a Gaza school that it claims was being used as a Hamas compound, killing insurgents who allegedly orchestrated the Oct. 7 attack.
Gaza media reported that the attack killed at least 27 people seeking refuge at the compound.
Ismail Al-Thawabta, head of the Hamas-run government media office, denied Israel's claims that a Hamas command station was disguised in the United Nations school in Nuseirat, central Gaza.
Did you read this?
"The occupation uses lying to the public opinion through false fabricated stories to justify the brutal crime it conducted against dozens of displaced people," Thawabta told Reuters.
Israel's military said that before the strike by Israeli fighter planes, it took precautions to minimize the possibility of collateral damage.
Israel has stated that there would be no pause to fighting during ceasefire discussions.
In an apparent setback to a truce proposal floated by US President Joe Biden last week, Hamas' leader announced on Wednesday that the organization would seek a permanent stop to the Gaza conflict and Israeli disengagement as part of a ceasefire agreement.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's words looked to be the Palestinian terrorist group's response to Biden's plan released last week. Washington had stated it was waiting to hear Hamas' response to what Biden described as an Israeli initiative.
"The movement and factions of the resistance will deal seriously and positively with any agreement that is based on a comprehensive ending of the aggression and the complete withdrawal and prisoners swap,” Haniyeh said.
According to Israeli estimates, Hamas, which governs Gaza, started the conflict by bombing Israeli territory on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 captives. Approximately half of the captives were released during the war's sole truce, which lasted a week in November.
According to health experts in Gaza, Israel's military assault on the region has killed over 36,000 Palestinians, with thousands more believed to be buried under debris.
