More on Israel’s airstrike in northern Gaza, where at least 93 people were killed or missing, according to reports from the region’s Hamas-run health ministry (see our coverage at 12.05).

Israel’s key ally, the United States, called the attack in the town of Beit Lahiya “a terrible incident with terrible consequences” and said officials had reached out to the Israeli government to find out what happened.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller added that he was aware of reports that children were among the dead.

He said authorities “have made it clear that we want to know exactly what happened, how a result could have been achieved that, according to reports, would have led to the deaths of dozens of children, and we don’t yet know the answer to that question.”

“It is critical that Israel be careful to achieve greater strategic success and find a way to end this campaign in a way that brings the hostages home, ensures their safety,” and not just the continuation of an endless, perpetual conflict ” he added.

Earlier this month, the United States told Israel to take the necessary steps to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza within 30 days or face possible restrictions on military aid.

But Mr. Miller said the United States has not seen enough progress on the points they have identified so far.

The UN Human Rights Office said it was “horrified” by the attack and called for an urgent and transparent investigation into the situation.

Reuters news agency reported that video footage appeared to show scores of bodies wrapped in blankets outside a bombed four-storey building.

“There are dozens of martyrs (dead), dozens of displaced people were living in this house,” witness Ismail Ouaida, who helped remove the bodies, said in the video.

“The house was bombed without prior notice. As you can see, there are martyrs here and there, their body parts are hung on the walls.”

The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said yesterday that nearly 100,000 people were stranded in Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun without food or medical supplies.

The district health department claimed that those injured in today’s strike did not receive care as doctors had to evacuate the nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital.