Israeli Airstrikes Hit Gaza School Sheltering Displaced Palestinians, Killing 30

Israeli airstrikes hit a school in Gaza central city of Deir al-Balah, killing at least 30 people including children, as international negotiators prepared for ceasefire discussions. Thousands were sheltering in the school. The attack has led to further evacuation orders. Meanwhile, top officials from the U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and Israel plan to meet for cease-fire negotiations.

Israeli airstrikes hit a school being used by displaced Palestinians in central Gaza on Saturday, killing at least 30 people including children, as the country's negotiators prepared to meet international mediators to discuss a proposed cease-fire.

At least seven children and seven women were among the dead taken from the girls' school in Deir al-Balah to Al Aqsa Hospital. Israel's military said it targeted a Hamas command center used to direct attacks against Israeli troops and store weapons. However, Hamas denied the military's claim.

Civil defense workers in Gaza reported thousands had been sheltering in the school, which also contained a medical site. Journalists observed a dead toddler in an ambulance and bodies covered with blankets, with victims being pulled from the rubble.

Gaza's Health Ministry reported 12 additional casualties from other strikes on Saturday. Meanwhile, officials from the U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and Israel are set to meet in Italy to discuss cease-fire negotiations, with key figures like CIA Director Bill Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani in attendance.

Despite ongoing negotiations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to the war until achieving "total victory" in a speech to the U.S. Congress. Palestinian officials criticized the speech, claiming it endorsed continuing the offensive.

A new evacuation order was issued for part of a humanitarian zone in Gaza in response to rocket fire, planning an operation against Hamas militants in Khan Younis. The Health Ministry highlighted the forced displacement has halted services at multiple health centers, exacerbating existing issues such as waste and supply shortages.

Israeli estimates suggest about 1.8 million Palestinians are sheltering in the zone. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees noted the difficulty in assessing the evacuation's impact, describing them as forced displacement orders with little time for people to relocate.

In the West Bank, a 17-year-old was killed, and nine others wounded after an Israeli drone strike in Balata camp, Nablus. The ongoing war has claimed over 39,200 Palestinian lives so far, with significant numbers of children unaccompanied. The war had begun with a Hamas assault on Israel on Oct. 7, leading to a large number of casualties and hostages.

(With inputs from agencies.)