Israeli forces killed at least 16 Palestinian orphans and widows after bombing a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza City on Saturday, according to local officials.

The orphans and widows had arrived at the Zeitoun C school in southern Gaza City to receive cash assistance as part of a charity orphan sponsorship programme.

“The women and their children were sitting in the playground of the school, the kids were playing and suddenly two rockets hit them,” Said al-Malahi, a witness, told Reuters.

Another witness, Ahmed Azzam, told the news agency he did not see a single man among the wounded. “It was all women and children,” he said.

The Israeli military confirmed carrying out the deadly attack, saying it was a “precise strike” on “terrorists”.