Israeli Army Attacks Hamas and Islamic Jihad Forces Gathering at a School in Central Gaza

The Israeli army announced that its air force fighters attacked a group of forces from the Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, who had gathered at a school in Nuseirat in central Gaza on Monday evening, July 8. The Israeli army referred to these groups as "agents of terrorist activity" and added that these Palestinian forces were conducting operations against Israel from inside the school, using this location as a "shield" for their actions. According to the Israeli army, "precision munitions" were used in this attack to minimize civilian casualties as much as possible. Earlier, on Saturday, July 6, the Israeli army also announced that it had targeted a United Nations-managed school in central Gaza, which was being used by Hamas forces as a command center. The Israeli army noted that Hamas has continuously violated international laws and systematically used buildings and civilian populations as "human shields" for terrorist activities against the people of Israel. Schools in the Gaza Strip mainly operate under the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Since the middle of the Gaza war, Israel has accused UNRWA of complicity in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The battle between Israel and Hamas began on October 7 (October 15 in the Persian calendar) last year when this Iranian-backed terrorist group attacked Israel, killing over 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. More than a hundred of these hostages, nearly nine months into their captivity, remain bargaining chips for Hamas commanders with international mediators to gain concessions and end the war with Israel. Israeli tanks are in the city of Gaza; residents report that the fighting is very intense. Netanyahu stated that a ceasefire agreement must allow for the resumption of hostilities until military objectives are achieved. Israeli protesters blocked roads demanding an agreement for the release of hostages in Gaza. Hamas is "waiting for Israel's response" to the ceasefire proposal; a senior Hezbollah commander has been killed. Israel targeted a school building in Gaza; the army stated that this school was a "Hamas command center." Reuters reported that Hamas has accepted the U.S. proposal to resume negotiations for the release of hostages.