The school, located in a densely populated area, was sheltering more than 6,000 displaced people when it was struck by 2,000-pound bombs, according to the Government Media Office in Gaza.

Ismail Al-Thawabta, Director-General of the Government Media Office, condemned the assault, accusing the Israeli military of deliberately targeting displaced civilians. He described the attack as one of the deadliest in recent memory and part of what he called a broader campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people.

The scale of the destruction has left rescue teams overwhelmed, with many victims reportedly turned to pieces by the powerful explosions. The Government Media Office and Civil Defense teams in Gaza have called for immediate international intervention to halt what they describe as ongoing war crimes against the civilian population.

The attack comes as the United States approved the release of $3.5 billion in military aid to Israel, part of a larger $14.1 billion supplemental package passed by Congress in April. The funding will enable Israel to procure advanced weapons systems and equipment from American manufacturers.

Last month, the Biden administration lifted a two-month suspension on a shipment of 500-pound bombs to Israel, a pause that had been intended to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza. The decision to resume the shipments has drawn criticism in light of the escalating violence and civilian toll in the region. (ILKHA)