In a recent development, conflicting reports have emerged regarding the number of casualties resulting from an Israeli airstrike on a school-embedded Hamas headquarters in Gaza City. While Israeli officials announced the elimination of 19 terrorists in the strike, Hamas's claims of nearly 100 civilian deaths have been swiftly embraced by world leaders and media outlets.

According to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, 93 people were killed in the strike at the al-Tabaeen school complex, located near a mosque in Daraj and Tuffah areas. The Palestinian civil defense spokesperson, Mahmoud Bassal, confirmed the figure during a televised press conference, which included 11 children and six women among the deceased. Bassal further stated that there were unidentified remains as well.

However, Mustafa Barghouti, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, challenged the Israeli narrative. Taking to social media, Barghouti shared screenshots of Facebook posts, exposing what he claimed were inconsistencies in the Israeli Military's account. He alleged that two individuals, Muntaser Daher and Yousef al Wadia, who were on the Israeli list of Hamas fighters killed in the al-Tabaeen School strike, had actually been killed by the Israeli army in a different location 24 hours prior. Barghouti also questioned the inclusion of children's names on the list, suggesting they were not combatants.

While Barghouti did not provide the source of his claims, his accusations have added fuel to the fire of the ongoing controversy surrounding the incident. Israeli defense forces have vehemently denied Hamas's account, dismissing it as "fake numbers." Lt.-Col. Nadav Shoshani, the IDF international spokesperson, presented video evidence supporting Israel's position, emphasizing that the strike targeted a terrorist infrastructure within the complex. Shoshani further stated that the necessary precautions, including the use of precise munitions to minimize harm, were taken prior to the operation.

In response to the allegations made against them, the IDF underscored its commitment to international law and its values, while accusing Hamas of hiding behind civilians and using fake casualty figures to garner international sympathy. Israel pointed to the lack of significant structural damage to the compound to support their claim that the level of reported casualties could not have been caused by the three precise munitions employed in the strike.

With conflicting narratives dominating the conversation, the true extent of the casualties resulting from the Israeli strike remains uncertain. As world leaders and media outlets grapple with varying accounts, the situation continues to raise concerns about the ongoing conflict in the region and the toll it takes on innocent lives.