ISRAEL received condemnation from the United Nations and key players in the Middle East today after its forces carried out a “shocking and brutal massacre” that killed at least 90 Palestinians and wounded 300 in Gaza.

Hamas hit out at Saturday’s attack on civilians but said that it was still determined to press ahead with ceasefire talks.

Spokesperson Jihad Taha said that “there is no doubt that the horrific massacres will impact any efforts in the negotiations,” but he added that “efforts and endeavours of the mediators remain ongoing.”

Israel said that the attack had targeted Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif.

Far-right Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was not certain that Mr Deif had been killed, but Hamas insisted that he was in good health.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said that the attack, one of the deadliest by Israeli forces since their invasion of the Palestinian coastal enclave began last October, had left a number of victims “under the rubble and on the roads, and ambulance and civil defence crews are unable to reach them.”

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said he was “shocked and saddened” by the killings, which took place inside a designated “safe zone.”

He said in a statement: “The Israeli military stated that they were targeting two senior members of Hamas.

“The secretary-general underlines that international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack, must be upheld at all times.”

Palestinian Authority presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said the attack was a “continuation of the genocidal war against our people, and the US administration bears responsibility for the continuation of the massacres.”

Mr Rudeineh added: “Without blind and biased American support, this occupation would not have been able to continue its bloody crimes against our people and to defy international laws and the decisions of international courts that have demanded an end to the onslaught and protection for our people.”

In Lebanon, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said that Israel carried out the attack on displaced people and “then it justified it by saying it wanted to target Hamas leaders.” 

He asked: “Are there worse injustices and oppression in the world?”

Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack “in the strongest terms” and said that Israel’s “ongoing violations against the rights of Palestinian citizens” added serious “complications” to ceasefire efforts.

Egypt is among the countries working to mediate an agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Qatar, which is also involved in the process, labelled the attack a “shocking and brutal massacre.” 

The Organisation for Islamic Cooperation described the attack as “heinous.”