Australia condemns Israeli airstrike on Gaza school housing displaced Palestinians

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - Australia on Sunday joined the international community to condemn the deaths of dozens of civilians in an Israeli airstrike on a school housing displaced Palestinians in Gaza.

"Innocent Palestinians cannot continue to pay the price of defeating Hamas," Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a post on X, calling for an "immediate" cease-fire in the besieged enclave.

"Australia condemns the deaths of civilians from Israel’s strike on Al-Tabeen School. Israel must comply with international humanitarian law," Wong said. "We again call for an immediate ceasefire," she added.

At least 100 people were killed and several others were injured as the Israeli aircraft targeted Palestinians performing fajr (dawn) prayers at the Al-Taba'een School in the Al-Daraj neighborhood.

Despite appeals on Thursday from mediators, including Egypt, the US, and Qatar, to stop hostilities, reach a cease-fire, and a hostage exchange agreement, Israel persists with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli onslaught against the Gaza Strip has killed nearly 39,800 people since last October following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.