At least 30 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza

An Israeli airstrike on a school in Deir-al Balah, central Gaza, where thousands were sheltering, killed at least 30 people and injured more than 100, according to Palestinian sources.

According to Dr. Khalil Al-Daqran, a hospital spokeswoman, the majority of the school's victims that arrived to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital following the incident were women and children.

The Israeli government said in a statement that it took "numerous steps" to reduce the risk of hurting civilians before to the assault, "including the use of appropriate munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence."

"This is a further example of the Hamas terrorist organization's systematic violation of international law and exploitation of civilian structures and population as human shields for its attacks against the State of Israel," read the statement.

Earlier, Israel's military ordered the evacuation of a portion of Gaza's designated humanitarian zone ahead of a scheduled strike on Khan Younis on Saturday.

The evacuation order was issued in reaction to rocket firing, which Israel claimed originated in the area. The military said it planned an operation against Hamas militants in the city, including areas of Muwasi, a congested tent camp in a location where Israel has instructed hundreds of Palestinians to seek safety throughout the conflict.

The anticipated strike comes only one day before officials from the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Israel are set to meet in Italy to discuss the ongoing hostage and cease-fire discussions. On Sunday, CIA Director Bill Burns is expected to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, Mossad director David Barnea, and Egyptian spy chief Abbas Kamel, according to officials from the United States and Egypt who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the plans.

“People in Gaza are exhausted, living in inhumane conditions, with no safety at all,” the UN Relief and Works Agency posted on X on Monday.

This week, US and Israeli officials voiced hope that a truce and hostage agreement might be reached despite the ongoing fighting.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated Friday that the various parties are "inside the 10-yard line and driving toward the goal line."

It's the second evacuation order issued in a week, and it includes striking a portion of the humanitarian zone, a 60-square-kilometer (about 20-square-mile) area covered in tent camps with no sanitation or medical facilities and restricted access to aid, according to the United Nations and humanitarian organizations. Israel expanded the zone in May to accommodate refugees leaving Rafah, which housed more than half of Gaza's population at the time.

According to Israeli estimates, about 1.8 million Palestinians are presently seeking refuge there after being uprooted several times in pursuit of protection during Israel's brutal air and ground campaign. In November, the military stated that the area might still be targeted and that it was "not a safe zone, but it is a safer place than any other" in Gaza.

According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, Israeli military action has killed 39,258 Palestinians and injured another 90,589. According to UN estimates, about 2 million people had been displaced in Gaza by early July, accounting for nearly the entire population.