Von der Leyen condemns ‘abhorrent’ Israeli strikes on Gaza’s civilian sites

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has condemned Israel’s “abhorrent” deadly wave of strikes on civilian sites in Gaza, including a school, during a call with Jordan’s King Abdullah II. Rescuers said strikes killed at least 52 people in the enclave on Monday, including 33 in a school-turned-shelter. Israel’s renewed offensive has drawn international condemnation. “The expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza targeting civilian infrastructure, among them a school that served as a shelter for displaced Palestinian families, killing civilians, including children, is abhorrent,” Ms von der Leyen said, according to an EU readout of the call.