By Emeka Blast 
Hamas Headquarters Inside Khan Yunis School Destroyed by Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted a precision airstrike on Saturday, August 9, 2025, demolishing a Hamas terror headquarters embedded within a school in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirming that all terrorists inside were eliminated. The operation, guided by intelligence from the Military Intelligence Directorate (AMAN) and Shin Bet, targeted a command and control center in the Al-Taabin school complex near a mosque in the Dura’ Tafah area, used by Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives to plan attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers. The strike, hailed as a significant blow to Hamas’s operational capabilities, has sparked intense debate amid conflicting casualty reports and international condemnation.
According to IDF statements, at least 19 terrorists, including key figures like Ashraf Juda, commander of Islamic Jihad’s Central Brigade, were killed in the attack. The IAF employed three small, precise munitions to minimize collateral damage, with the IDF asserting that the school’s men’s section, where the terrorists were located, was the sole target. “The compound served as an active Hamas and Islamic Jihad military facility,” said IDF spokesperson Lt.-Col. Nadav Shoshani on X, disputing Hamas’s claim of over 100 civilian deaths as “exaggerated” and inconsistent with the precision of the strike. Aerial surveillance and intelligence ensured no women or children were present, the IDF added, accusing Hamas of systematically violating international law by using civilian infrastructure as human shields.
The operation aligns with ongoing IDF efforts in Khan Yunis, where the 98th Paratroopers Division has dismantled extensive Hamas tunnel networks and destroyed over 1,200 terror infrastructures since the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. The strike follows a pattern of targeting Hamas strongholds embedded in civilian areas, such as a recent operation in Abbasan that destroyed terror headquarters in Al-Ouda and Taybeh schools. Social media posts on X celebrated the strike, with @IndiaWarZone stating, “The IAF proved terrorists can’t hide behind school boards. Khan Yunis HQ wiped out! #IsraelStrikes,” while @MeghUpdates tweeted, “All terrorists in Hamas’s school hideout eliminated. Major win for Israel! #KhanYunis.”
However, the strike has drawn sharp criticism. Hamas’s media office claimed over 100 civilian deaths, including women and children attending dawn prayers, labeling it a “massacre” and accusing Israel of fabricating military targets. The Palestinian Authority’s Wafa news agency echoed this, reporting significant civilian casualties. International reactions included condemnation from the United Nations’ Francesca Albanese, who called the strike part of Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza, and Canada’s Foreign Ministry, which urged Israel to uphold international humanitarian law. The U.S. expressed “deep concern,” while Iraq’s Foreign Ministry described the attack as “barbaric.” On X, @TruthSeekerNG questioned, “How precise can these strikes be in a crowded school? Israel needs to address civilian risks.”
The IDF countered that Hamas’s casualty figures are unreliable, citing their history of inflating numbers for propaganda. The operation underscores the challenges of urban warfare in Gaza, where Hamas embeds military assets in densely populated areas. The strike’s fallout is likely to intensify scrutiny of Israel’s military tactics, with Human Rights Watch previously noting U.S.-made munitions in similar Gaza school strikes.
