IAF Jet
IAF JetIDF Spokesman

Here's some important context to the headlines you’re seeing about Israel Defense Forces operations in the Gaza Strip:

Hamas has turned residential areas in the Gaza Strip into military strongholds.

It uses tall buildings in Gaza for multiple military purposes such as intelligence gathering, planning attacks, command and control, and communications.

When Hamas uses a tall building for military purposes, it becomes a lawful military target.
Israel Defense Forces

The Israel Defense Forces struck a number of such buildings in recent days, but before we did so, we took steps to try and ensure that civilians would not be harmed.

We called the building's residents and warned them to leave. We sent SMS messages. We dropped "roof knocker" bombs; they make loud noises and hit only the roof. We provided sufficient time to evacuate.

We'll say it again: When Hamas places military assets inside such a building, it becomes a lawful military target. This is clear international law.

All the multi-story buildings targeted by the IDF were used for military purposes within each building.
Israel Defense Forces.