Israel troops kill 22 in Gaza, attack school sheltering Palestinians

Israeli troops killed at least 22 Palestinians, most of them in the northern Gaza Strip, on Sunday in airstrikes and other attacks on targets that included a school sheltering Gazans, residents said.

They said at least 11 of the dead were killed in three Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City houses, nine were killed in the towns of Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and Jabalia camp and two were killed by drone fire in Rafah. Residents said clusters of houses were bombed and some set ablaze in the three towns. The Israeli army has been operating in the towns for over two months.

The Israeli military said the three Gaza City houses belonged to militants who were planning attacks. It said steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians beforehand, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.

The military issued a photo showing the weapons, including grenades, seized at Beit Lahiya. At Beit Hanoun, Israeli forces besieged families, which had taken shelter in Khalil Aweida school. Later, they stormed the school and ordered them to head towards Gaza City, the residents said.

Medics said several people were killed and wounded during the raid on the school while the army detained many men. The military said it struck down dozens of militants from the air and captured others at Beit Hanoun.