Images from the scene show blood on the floors and tents on fire. According to media reports, there is no water to extinguish the fire with. Qatar-based Al Jazeera describes the scenes at Kamal Adwan Hospital, where the dead and injured have been taken, as "horrific".
However, the information varies greatly regarding who was in the building. Israel claims that the site was converted into a command center for militias, and lists over ten names of extremists who were killed.
Hamas denies in a statement that the school was used in the movement's warfare, according to several media outlets.
The Hamas-backed authorities in Gaza claim, according to regional media, that refugees had gathered in the local facility, which was previously reported to have been a school run by the UN's Palestine agency Unrwa. At least five children are among the dead, according to the authorities.
Jabalia has been bombarded by Israel for over a week, both from the air and ground. Thousands of Palestinians are reported to be trapped in their homes while bloody battles rage outside. Very little humanitarian aid has arrived in the area in recent weeks, according to several media outlets.
