White House 'deeply concerned' after Gaza officials report more than 100 killed in school sheltering thousands

An airstrike by the Israel Defense Forces on a school-turned-shelter killed at least 60 people and injured dozens more on Saturday morning.

An airstrike by the Israel Defense Forces on a school-turned-shelter killed at least 100 people and injured dozens more Saturday morning, according to Gaza's civil defense, in what would be one of the deadliest attacks in the 10-month war as mediators discussed ongoing efforts to de-escalate soaring tensions in the region.

The strikes hit the Tabeen school in Gaza City, including the mosque inside it, during dawn prayers. Video filmed by an NBC News crew showed significant damage to parts of the school, which witnesses say was hit without an evacuation warning from the IDF.

In response to the attack, the White House issued a statement Saturday, saying it was “deeply concerned” about reports of civilian casualties, and urged Israel to take measures “to minimize civilian harm.”

The IDF issued several statements on Saturday and Sunday, disputing the death toll and the scale of the strike's impact.

On Saturday afternoon, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesperson, said the reported number of deaths, "do not distinguish between combatants and non-combatants, and they do not match the information held by the IDF,” Hagari said, referring to the Gaza's government information office. The death toll cited by NBC News is from civil defense, the agency that provides emergency services in Gaza.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/scores-killed-israei-strike-tabeen-school-gaza-city-rcna166069

---