Middle East live: 28 killed, 54 wounded in Israeli strike on Gaza school as Lebanon peace talks ‘intensify’
US President Joe Biden and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu discussed a response to the Iranian missile attack over the phone
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An Israeli airstrike has killed 28 people and wounded 54 more in a Gaza school which was used as a shelter for displaced people, medics said.
A reporter for Associated Press confirmed an previous death toll of 21, counting bodies as they arrived in Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, with some arriving in pieces.
The strike hit Rufaida School in western Deir Al-Balah. Images of the aftermath show children covered in blood and lying on the hospital floor.
Israeli forces said they were targeting militants, adding that “numerous steps were taken” to mitigate harm to civilians.
It comes as the prime minister of Lebanon said on Thursday morning that ceasefire efforts led by the US and France have “intensified”.
“There are contacts taking place between the United States and France with the aim of reviving a ceasefire declaration for a specific period in order to resume the search for political solutions,” Najib Mikati said according to Reuters.
On Wednesday, Hezbollah deputy secretery general Naim Qassem said the group will “support the political efforts” towards a ceasefire.
But Israel’s invasion and bombardment continues, with the Israeli military today saying it killed two more Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon.
Pictured: Scenes of devastation following Israeli strike on Gaza clinic
Israeli troops open fire on UN peacekeeper positions
The Israeli military opened fire at three positions held by UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon on Thursday, according to a UN source.
Speaking to Reuters, the source did not immediately specify the type of fire.
One of the locations under fire was the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon’s (UNIFL) main base in Naqoura.
UNIFL is a peacekeeping mission established in 1978, with 10,000 members from 46 nations tasked with helping the Lebanese Army keep the south protected from armed groups such as Hezbollah.
Palestinian Red Crescent shares video of aftermath of huge Israeli strike
The Palestinian Red Crescent has shared a video on X showing the aftermath of a huge Israeli strike on a school in Gaza, which was serving as a shelter for displaced people.
The organisation reported 28 deaths and 54 injures. The death toll was later updated from that shown in the tweet.
Israeli military confirms strike on Gaza school
The Israeli military has confirmed it carried out a strike on a school which was sheltering displaced people on Thursday, saying they were targeting militants.
It said in a statement: “Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence.”
In pictures: Turkish citizens flee Lebanon by ship
Update: Gaza school strike killed 28 and injured 54, medics say
The death toll for the strike on a school in Gaza is now 28, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
54 people were also injured in the strike, the organisation reported.
The Palestinian Red Crescent is a humanitarian organisation which serves as Palestine’s branch of the International Red Cross.
Breaking: At least 16 killed in Israeli airstrike on Gaza school, medics say
An Israeli strike has killed at least 16 people in a Gaza school which was being used to shelter displaced people on the Gaza strip, medics say.
Dozens were also injured in the strike on Rufaida School in western Deir Al-Balah, according to Reuters.
US and France leading ceasefire charge, Mikati says
Lebanese prime minister Najib Mikati says the United States and France are trying to revive a ceasefire deal for the Middle East.
“There are contacts taking place between the United States and France with the aim of reviving a ceasefire declaration for a specific period in order to resume the search for political solutions,” he is quoted as saying, according to Reuters.
Lebanese milotant group Hezbollah yesterday supported calls for a ceasefire, and dropped a Gaza truce from their ceasefire conditions.
“We support the political efforts led by (Parliament Speaker Nabih) Berri under the banner of achieving a ceasefire. Once the ceasefire is firmly established and diplomacy can reach it, all other details will be discussed and decisions will be made collaboratively,” Deputy Secretery General Naim Qassem said.
But Israel’s invasion of Lebanon continues, and Netanyahu told the people of Hezbollah to throw out Hezbollah if they want to avoid the "destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza".
Diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire have intensified, Lebanese PM says
Lebanon’s prime minister, Najib Mikati, says diplomatic communications towards a ceasefire have intensified ahead of the UN Security Council meeting, Reuters reported.
We’ll bring you the latest on Mikati’s claims as it comes.
Pictured: Site of Israeli strike which killed five health workers
As we reported earlier, five health workers were killed by Israeli strikes on the southern Lebanese town of Derdghaiya, according to Lebanese authorities.
Here are some pictures of the scene at the Civil Defence emergency centre.
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