Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Saturday claimed 17 lives, including Deiab al-Jaro, the mayor of Deir el-Balah, and seven others at a UN-operated school housing displaced civilians.
According to Mahmud Bassal, spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defence agency, the attack on the Al-Majida Wasila school, located west of Gaza City, resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including women and children, and injured at least 10 more. The school, managed by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, served as a temporary refuge for displaced people.
In Deir el-Balah, an airstrike targeted the town hall, killing Mayor Jaro and nine others. The Israeli military alleged that Jaro was a member of Hamas’s military wing, but this claim remains unverified.
The conflict, which escalated following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, has caused extensive casualties. The Hamas-run health ministry reports at least 44,930 deaths in Gaza, predominantly civilians.
Over the past 24 hours, at least 52 people have been killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza. Bombings struck two schools in Gaza City, while intensified attacks in northern Gaza destroyed homes and buildings in Beit Lahiya. Kamal Adwan Hospital also came under Israeli fire.
