Israel says strike on Gaza City school targeted ‘intelligence centre’ of Hamas and Islamic Jihad

The Israeli army and Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, said on Monday that the bombing of Fahmi al-Jarjawi school in Gaza City was targeting an intelligence compound used by Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

"The command and control center was used by the terrorists to plan and gather intelligence in order to execute terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops," the Israeli army said in a statement, saying that the compound was used by both Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

It added that "numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians" in the school.

At least 30 people were killed in the bombing that targeted the school-turned-shelter located in al-Daraj neighbourhood of Gaza City, with videos showing children burned alive as heavy fire broke out in the building after the attack.

Rescue teams say the search is ongoing for missing bodies under the rubble.