The UN Security Council will today hold an emergency meeting called by Algeria following the recent Israeli attack on a school in the Gaza Strip, which left more than a hundred people dead.

The Algerian delegation, the Arab representative in the peace forum, called the meeting after describing the events in the besieged territory as serious, especially after the air strikes against the Al-Tabin school in Gaza City.

Saturday’s aggression adds to a growing wave of attacks by Tel Aviv on educational centres sheltering hundreds of thousands of forcibly displaced Palestinians.

It was condemned by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who deplored the continuing loss of life in the enclave and called for protection for civilians along with greater unimpeded and safe humanitarian access.

For its part, the UN Human Rights Office said the school was hit at least three times «with apparent disregard for the high rate of civilian casualties».

Since 4 July, the UN has counted 21 attacks on shelter facilities that have killed at least 274 people, including women and children.

According to the UN’s top human rights body, the current offensive suggests a gross disregard for obligations under international humanitarian law.

Internally displaced persons in the Strip face unspeakable horror after 10 months of hostilities, including multiple forced movements, the rapid spread of disease and continued denial of access to the basic necessities of life, the Office said.

Other UN figures say that 90 per cent of Gaza’s population, estimated at 2.3 million, has been displaced up to ten times since 7 October, when hostilities broke out.