ISTANBUL

Saudi Arabia condemned on Saturday what it described as an Israeli "blatant bombing" of the Al-Fakhoura school in northern the Gaza Strip which left dozens of Palestinians dead.

The Foreign Ministry expressed in a statement the Kingdom's "condemnation and denunciation in the strongest terms the blatant bombing of the UNRWA Al-Fakhoura school in the Gaza Strip, by the Israeli occupation forces."

The statement renewed Saudi Arabia's "complete rejection of the systematic targeting of civilians."

It urged an immediate cease-fire and to ensure the protection of civilians and relief facilities, and also urged "activating international accountability mechanisms in the face of the ongoing Israeli violations of international humanitarian law."

Israeli air raids killed at least 50 Palestinians at the school earlier Saturday. The school is run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA, in the Jabalia refugee camp.

Israel has killed more than 12,300 Palestinians in its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 surprise offensive by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas. The official Israeli death toll, meanwhile, stands at about 1,200.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have been damaged or destroyed in Israel’s relentless strikes on the besieged enclave.

An Israeli blockade has also cut Gaza off from fuel, electricity, and water supplies, and reduced aid deliveries to a trickle.

Israel has rejected growing calls for a cease-fire until all hostages held by Hamas are released.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar