The Hamas-run health ministry has claimed at least 50 people have been killed in an Israeli attack on a school in northern Gaza.
The ministry claimed Israel attacked the UN-run al Fakhoura school, in Jabalia refugee camp, with at least 32 people killed in a separate attack on another building in the same camp, as reported by AFP.
Commissioner general of the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, said he has seen “horrifying images” of people killed and injured in a school run by the organisation.
Latest as Gaza health ministry says at least 50 killed in attack on school
He did not specify if this was al Fakhoura and Sky News cannot verify these reports.
“Receiving horrifying images and footage of scores of people killed and injured in another UNRWA school sheltering thousands of displaced in the north of the Gaza Strip,” he posted on X.
“These attacks cannot become commonplace, they must stop. A humanitarian ceasefire cannot wait any longer.”
Palestinians inspect the site of airstrikes on houses in Jabalia refugee camp earlier this week
Sky News has geolocated a video from a building at Jabalia refugee camp, where the school is located, which appears to show dozens of dead bodies.
The footage shows women and children among those motionless on multiple floors of the building.
Many people seen were lying still, surrounded by blood, in one damaged room, which appeared to also contain school desks.
The IDF has told Sky News they are looking into reports of the attacks, while the Hamas-run health ministry also claims Tal al Zaatar school, in Beit Lahia, was attacked too.
Unicef’s director for the Middle East, reacting to the reports, said these “horrible attacks should cease immediately”.
“The scenes of carnage and death following attacks on al Fakhoura… in Gaza killing many children and women are horrific and appalling,” Adele Khodr posted on X.
“Children, schools and shelters are not a target. Immediate ceasefire needed now!”
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Jabalia camp has been converted into a shelter for displaced Palestinians as Israel’s bombardment of the territory continues, with Hamas claiming more than 12,000 people have been killed.
Israel’s current offensive was launched after Hamas attacked the country on 7 October, which Israel says killed 1,200 people and left 242 taken hostage in Gaza.