Germany says Israeli strike on Gaza school killing 100 Palestinians was 'self-defence'

In response to Israeli forces last week bombing Gaza's al-Tabin school, which killed more than 100 displaced Palestinians sheltering there, Germany said "Israel has the right to defend itself". 

Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Berlin on Monday, government deputy spokesman Wolfgang Buechner reiterated that “Israel has the right to defend itself" when asked about Germany's response to Israel's strike on Saturday, the Anadolu news agency reported.

"The reality is that Hamas uses schools, hospitals, kindergartens as command centres and that the people in the Gaza Strip are also abused against their will as protective [human] shields," Buechner added, and warned of "one-sided reports that are distributed by Hamas" and not "believing everything that is spread by this side".

The strike targeted the Tabin school in Gaza City at dawn, killing at least 100 Palestinians during early morning prayers. Most of the victims were children and the elderly.

Read more: Germany says Israeli strike on Gaza school killing 100 Palestinians was 'self-defence'