An Israeli airstrike killed seven people in a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza City, Palestinian health officials said, with the Israeli military saying it had targeted “militants” operating from the compound, Reuters reports.

The strike hit Kafr Qasem School in Beach camp at around 11am , the officials said. Among those killed was Majed Saleh, the director of the Public Works and Housing ministry, they added.

Israel’s military said the strike targeted Hamas fighters there, and that it had used aerial surveillance and taken other steps to limit the risk to civilians.

The attack and other reported violence in Gaza came amid a surge of strikes further north between Israel and the Iran-backed forces of Hezbollah across the border with Lebanon - a parallel conflict that had stoked fears of wider regional unrest.