The Israeli military says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because the militants operate in densely populated areas.

At least 23 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured early Thursday in a series of Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian sources. Israeli warplanes bombed the Mustafa Hafez School in western Gaza City which was sheltering displaced families, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

Israel and Hamas appeared no closer to a breakthrough in indirect talks meant to pause the war and free some Israeli hostages after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Washington visit last week.