Palestinian Territories — Gaza’s civil defense agency said Israeli strikes hit two schools in Gaza City Thursday, killing more than 18 people.
“The Israeli occupation killed more than 18 citizens in strikes on two schools,” senior agency official Mohammad al-Mughayyir told AFP, referring to Al-Zahra and Abdel Fattah Hamoud schools in Gaza City.
Mughayyir said 60 people were also wounded and more than 40 still missing.
“This is a clear targeting of schools and safe civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip,” he said.
Turkey, Qatar call for calm
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani appealed Thursday for greater international efforts to stop the Middle East conflict from escalating.
The joint appeal came as the emir, whose country has been a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, made a brief visit to Ankara to discuss the crisis after last week’s killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Hamas and Iran have blamed Israel.
“President Erdogan said Israel is trying to increase tension in the region with its attacks on Palestinian territory and on Lebanon, and that the international community had to take effective measures to end the Israeli aggression, which has intensified in recent days,” said a statement released by Erdogan’s office.
Until October 7, when Hamas launched its attack on Israel, Haniyeh divided his time between Qatar and Turkey.
Erdogan’s statement added that with the killing of the Hamas leader “Israel has once more demonstrated it has no intention of (obtaining) a ceasefire”.
The October 7 Hamas attack that triggered the Gaza war resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 39,699 people, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry, which does not give details of civilian and militant deaths.