Israeli airstrike on Gaza school kills 27

Israeli forces killed at least 27 people, including women and children, in an airstrike on a school building in Gaza City where displaced families were sheltering, Palestinian health authorities said Thursday.

The Israeli military stated that the Dar Al-Arqam school in Gaza City's Tuffah neighborhood was being used as a Hamas command and control center. It accused Hamas of deliberately operating from civilian infrastructure—an allegation Hamas denies.

Meanwhile, Israeli troops have moved into northern Gaza, aiming to expand what they call a "security zone" around the enclave’s border. This comes days after the government announced plans to seize large areas in the south. Soldiers operating in Shejaia, a suburb east of Gaza City, were facilitating civilian evacuations through designated routes, the military said.

Israel issued evacuation warnings on Thursday, prompting hundreds of residents to flee. Some walked while carrying their belongings, others left on donkey carts, bicycles, or in vans. In recent days, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced in one of the largest mass exoduses of the war as Israeli forces continue expanding their control.

Israeli military operations in Gaza's farmland

On Gaza’s southern edge, Israeli forces have consolidated control around the ruins of Rafah. The military claims it has killed numerous militants and dismantled Hamas infrastructure, including a command center.

Israel has not fully explained its long-term plans for the seized areas, but Gaza residents fear the goal is to permanently depopulate key regions, including farmland and vital water infrastructure.

Palestinians accuse Israel of attempting to displace Gaza’s population permanently, aligning with a plan—previously proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump—to transform the enclave into a waterfront resort under U.S. oversight. Israel has said it would encourage voluntary emigration for those who wish to leave.

The war resumed on March 18 after a two-month truce. Israeli ministers insist the operation will continue until the remaining 59 hostages in Gaza are freed. Hamas has stated it will release them only under a deal that guarantees a permanent end to the war.

Israel’s latest assault has left much of Gaza in ruins and has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to the enclave’s health authorities.