According to the IDF, the facility was being utilized by Hamas terrorists to direct and plan attacks against Israeli forces and to store significant quantities of weapons. The IDF emphasized that extensive measures were taken to minimize civilian casualties, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence.
In contrast, Palestinian media report that the school was being used as a field hospital to shelter displaced individuals, with at least 30 people reported killed in the attack.
The IDF's strike was based on detailed intelligence from the IDF and Shin Bet, which confirmed the presence of Hamas operatives within the school complex. The IDF stated that this operation highlights Hamas’s ongoing violation of international law by using civilian structures and populations as human shields in their attacks against Israel.
Following the strike, the IDF Spokesperson announced an "adjustment" to the humanitarian zone's borders in the area due to intelligence about terrorist activities in central Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, reported that the airstrike resulted in at least 30 deaths and over 100 injuries.