RAMALLAH, Palestine

Hundreds of Palestinians gathered Saturday in the occupied West Bank cities of Nablus and Ramallah to protest an Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza that targeted displaced Palestinians seeking refuge.

The demonstrations were organized by the Coordination Committee of Factions and local institutions in both governorates.

Protesters condemned ongoing Israeli attacks and the recent “massacre” at the Al-Taba’een School, where at least 100 Palestinians were killed while performing fajr (dawn) prayers.

Demonstrators in Nablus assembled in Martyrs’ Square, with prominent figures from political factions joining the protest.

Nasri Abu Jish, coordinator of the National Islamic Forces in Nablus, said the demonstrations are to deliver two key messages: Support for the people and resistance in Gaza and a demand for the international community to address the ongoing war.

Abu Jish emphasized the need for immediate action from the UN Security Council and General Assembly to curb Israeli aggression and to enforce measures to stop the onslaught in Gaza.

In Ramallah, activists and politicians marched through the city center, urging international intervention to halt Israeli crimes and protect civilians.

Activist Omar Assaf criticized the Israeli policy of “massacres,” demanding global action against Israeli violations.

With the bombing of Al-Taba'een school, the total number of schools targeted by the Israeli army in Gaza City in the last week has increased to six, according to an Anadolu tally.

Despite appeals Thursday from mediators, including Egypt, the US, and Qatar, to stop hostilities, reach a cease-fire and a hostage exchange agreement, Israel persists with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli onslaught against Gaza has killed nearly 39,800 victims since October following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi