British surgeon in Gaza condemns ‘complicit’ politicians – as at least 20 reported dead in Israeli airstrike on school

At least 20 people have been killed and dozens more injured after an Israeli airstrike targeting a school in Gaza, health authorities have said.

Reuters news agency reported the number of dead, citing medics, with the school in the Daraj neighbourhood in Gaza City having been used to shelter displaced people who had fled previous bombardments.

Warning: Some readers may find content distressing

Medical and civil defence sources on the ground confirmed women and children were among the casualties, with several charred bodies arriving at al Shifa and al Ahli hospitals overnight into Monday.

The scene inside the school has been described as horrific, with more victims feared trapped under the rubble.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

It comes as a British doctor working in Gaza has hit out at politicians who he accused of being “complicit” in the “ongoing slaughter and starvation” in the Palestinian territory.

‘They have never smelt the rotting flesh’

Tom Potokar, who is working at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, said the “political class… appear on the news shows, give interviews and try to justify what is happening, sitting in their offices, safe and sound, well fed and surrounded by all the luxuries of modern life”.

“They have no idea how dangerous their words are,” he continued.

“They have never been here, they’ve never seen with their own eyes what is going on, heard the screams, smelt the rotting flesh, shuddered from the constant bombardment.”

The medic added that if they spent “just one day here they would have the courage and the humanity to speak the truth… and use their power to bring this to an end, rather than being complicit in sustaining what is happening here”.

Earlier, a medical charity chief spoke out about the deaths of a doctor’s nine children in an Israeli strike on Friday, and the “almost impossibility” of providing care in Gaza.

Chris Lockyear – secretary general of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders – told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips the bodies of nine of paediatrician Alaa al Najjar’s 10 children arrived at the Nasser Medical Complex, in Khan Younis, while she was on shift.

Read more:
British doctor says Khan Younis looks like Stalingrad’
Surgeon working in Gaza says it is now ‘a slaughterhouse’

Chief of US-backed aid group quits

There has been mounting international condemnation of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has seen Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuse Western leaders including Sir Keir Starmer of siding with Hamas.

Last Tuesday, the UK paused free trade talks with Israel, summoned its ambassador, and announced further sanctions against West Bank settlers.

In recent days, Israel has allowed some aid trucks to enter Gaza after blocking the entry of medical, food, and fuel supplies since the start of March, which had prompted international experts to warn of looming famine.

The head of a US-backed humanitarian organisation set up to transport aid as part of an Israeli plan – rather than a United Nations (UN) distribution effort – has since resigned.

Jake Wood said on Sunday the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation he led for the past two months cannot adhere to the “humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which I will not abandon”.

The foundation was meant to lead a joint US-Israeli operation to deliver aid in Gaza starting this week. Israel has claimed previous UN aid deliveries have been stolen by Hamas fighters.

The UN believes the US-Israeli plans would only foment further violence and the forced relocation of Palestinians.

Follow the World

Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday

Tap to follow

Trump wants end to war

Despite the warnings, Mr Netanyahu has vowed the whole of Gaza will be under Israel’s control.

Israel stepped up its military operations in early May, saying it was seeking to eliminate Hamas’ military and governing capabilities and bring back the remaining hostages who were seized on 7 October 2023.

The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on that day, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping about 250 others.

Israel’s response has flattened large areas of Gaza and killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

Speaking on Sunday, Donald Trump repeated his desire to “see if we can stop” what is happening – but did not criticise Mr Netanyahu or the Israeli military campaign.