US Vice-President Kamala Harris has condemned the loss of civilian life in an

Israeli air strike against a school building in Gaza on Saturday.

The director of a hospital said, more than 70 people were killed at the building

which sheltered displaced Palestinians, and reiterated calls for a hostage deal

and a ceasefire, echoing comments made by the White House.

An Israeli military spokesman said al-Taba’een school "served as an active

Hamas and Islamic Jihad military facility", which Hamas denies.

Speaking at a campaign event in Phoenix, Arizona, Ms Harris said Israel had a

right to "go after Hamas" but also has "an important responsibility" to avoid civilian

casualties, adding that, saturday's air strike has been criticized by Western and

regional powers, with Egypt saying it showed Israel had no desire to reach a

ceasefire or end the Gaza war.

Fadl Naeem, head of al-Ahli Hospital where many of the casualties were taken,

said around 70 victims were identified in the hours after the strike - with the

remains of many others so badly disfigured that identification was difficult, while, a

statement by the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli Security Agency said "at

least 19 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists" were "eliminated" in the attack.