In a tragic incident, Israeli airstrikes on two school buildings in the north of Gaza City resulted in the deaths of 17 Palestinians, the majority of them children. The attack also left at least 63 others injured, as confirmed by Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal on Saturday.

According to Basal, the airstrikes targeted Al-Huda School and Al-Hamama School, which are adjacent to each other and share the same playground. These schools were being used as shelters for people displaced by the violence in the region.

CNN reached out to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for comment, and they responded by stating that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) had targeted alleged terrorists operating within a Hamas command and control center. The attack was carried out in coordination with intelligence from the IDF and ISA.

However, Palestinian officials claim that the schools were hit a second time, with at least three additional missiles striking the area in a "double tap" attack. Basal described how the first bombing took everyone by surprise and resulted in a large number of deaths and injuries. As people were being rescued, the occupation forces issued a warning of an imminent second strike.

The Civil Defense in Gaza shared a list of the victims' names, revealing that at least three of those killed were female. Basal explained that the final death toll is still uncertain as the rescue operation continues.

Disturbing footage obtained by CNN from the aftermath of the airstrikes shows the devastating impact of the attack, with lifeless bodies and injured children scattered across the site.

The military offensive in Gaza was launched by Israel on October 7 in response to an attack by the terror group Hamas on southern Israel. Israeli authorities report that the assault led by Hamas resulted in over 1,200 deaths and more than 250 abductions. In retaliation, Israeli military actions have caused the deaths of nearly 40,000 Palestinians and injured over 90,000, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health.

As of early July, the United Nations estimates that nearly 2 million people, almost the entire population of Gaza, have been displaced due to the conflict.

The international community continues to plead for an end to the violence and calls for a peaceful resolution to ensure the safety and well-being of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.