UK foreign secretary 'appalled' by Israeli attack on Gaza school

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) — Britain's foreign secretary said on Saturday that he was "appalled" by Israel's bombing of a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza City in a strike that killed at least 100 people and injured many others.

"Hamas must stop endangering civilians. Israel must comply with International Humanitarian Law," David Lammy said on X.

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

"We need an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians, free all hostages, and end restrictions on aid," Lammy stressed.

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.