Men stand in front of the collapsed minaret of a mosque, following an Israeli shelling in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, July 17. (Source: AFP/Getty)

Civil defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal posted on Telegram: "40 people were martyred and dozens were injured after Israeli bombing of Al-Taba'een school in Al-Sahaba area in Gaza City."

Mr Basal described the incident as "a horrific massacre" and rescue teams were trying to control the fire to recover bodies.

Immediately afterwards, updating on the above incident, Reuters quoted the official Palestinian news agency as saying that more than 100 people were killed and dozens of others injured in an Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza, a shelter for evacuees.

Meanwhile, regarding the incident, on the same day, August 10, the Israeli army announced that it had "precisely attacked Hamas elements operating in a Hamas command and control center located in Al-Taba'een school".

“Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to minimize the risk of harm to civilians, including the use of precision munitions, aerial surveillance and intelligence,” the Israeli statement added.

Earlier on August 8, the Gaza civil defense agency said that Israeli attacks targeted two schools in Gaza City, killing more than 18 people. The Israeli military said at the time that they had attacked Hamas command centers.