Israel-Hamas war: IDF says civilian deaths ‘inevitable’ – as six killed in strike on Gaza school

Israel’s military says more civilian deaths in Gaza are “inevitable”, claiming that Hamas fighters are using Palestinians as cover.

More than one million Palestinians were warned to move to southern Gaza from the north at the weekend by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), ahead of an expected ground invasion.

In recent days, more than 80 people have been killed in attacks in the south following Israeli airstrikes, according to the Hamas-run government.

Follow live: Israel hints at ‘something different’ to ground offensive

The United Nations added six people were killed in an airstrike on a school run by the organisation in Gaza’s Al Maghazi refugee camp.

The Palestinian health ministry, which is run by Hamas, has also claimed up to 500 people, which they called “martyrs”, were killed in a bombing that targeted a hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday.

Many countries and Palestinian authorities blamed Israel. The Israels said the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group was responsible for the blast – something PIJ denied.

Protesters stormed the streets of Ramallah in the West Bank in the wake of the incident on Tuesday evening, after former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal called on supporters to immediately stage protests in front of Israeli embassies across the world.

IDF spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner, told Sky News earlier: “You can’t expect us not to protect our civilians because Hamas are hiding behind theirs.

“We are in a huge effort… to minimise the civilian consequences of this conflict. But, and I say this very sadly, there will, and it is unfortunate and inevitable that this will continue to happen.”

He added: “We are going out of our way to refrain and minimise the civilian casualties, and it is indeed an extremely challenging task as pointed out, with the density of the population in Gaza.”

In an earlier statement on Tuesday, the IDF said it had cancelled a “large number” of attacks in recent days, which it said was done to avoid civilian casualties.

The lieutenant colonel added if it is directed to open a humanitarian corridor by the government, then it will, but until then, the IDF will continue its “fight”.

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The comments came amid fears the war could escalate.

US President Joe Biden was expected in the region on Wednesday in an effort to calm tensions, but a meeting with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, King Abdullah of Jordan and President Sisi of Egypt was cancelled.

It is expected his visit Israel to signal support for the country will go ahead.

Militant group Hezbollah has called for a “day of anger” against Israel on Wednesday, coinciding with Mr Biden’s visit.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is also expected to visit Israel, Sky News understands, possibly as part of a wider visit to the region.

Other key developments:
• 13-year-old British girl missing with her sister after Hamas attack is confirmed to have died
• Director of Rafah border crossing killed
• Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields
• UN operation in Gaza “on verge of collapse”, an official says
• Violence rising in West Bank as number of Palestinians killed reaches 61
• Israel says it may do “something different” to its expected ground offensive

Israel accuses Gaza of using civilians as human shield

Israel has besieged and bombed Gaza since the Hamas militant attack on Israel on 7 October.

The chief of Israel’s military intelligence, Major General Aharon Haliva, has written a letter taking responsibility for failure to anticipate the deadly attack.

More than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the Hamas assault, with about 200 hostages being held captive in Gaza.

At least 3,000 people in Gaza have been killed in retaliatory strikes and 12,500 others have been injured, according to the territory’s health ministry.

Speaking at a news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said Hamas was responsible for the safety of civilians in Gaza, including hostages they have taken, and claimed the group is using citizens as human shields.

Hundreds of people are feared buried under the rubble in Gaza, and more than a million Palestinians have fled their homes, with aid agencies warning of a deteriorating humanitarian crisis.

Concerns about dehydration and diseases were high as water and sanitation services collapsed.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said only around 14% of Gazans had access to water.

“People will start dying without water,” it said.