Israel-Gaza War
Israeli strike kills nearly 100 in Gaza school refuge, officials say
Israel justified the attack by claiming that school was being used as a command and control center by Hamas militants.
In ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, an Israeli airstrike targeted a school in Gaza City on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of nearly 100 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The Al-Tabin school, located in the densely populated Al-Daraj neighborhood, had been repurposed as a shelter for displaced families amid the ongoing hostilities. The attack has sparked international outrage and intensified calls for a ceasefire.
The strike occurred early in the morning while many of the school's occupants were engaged in dawn prayers. Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for Gaza's Civil Defense emergency services, reported that the school was housing approximately 350 families at the time of the attack. The initial death toll was estimated at around 93, with dozens more injured, including women and children. The scene was described as chaotic and horrific, with footage showing bodies being carried away and survivors searching for missing family members.
The Israeli military justified the attack by claiming that the school was being used as a command and control center by Hamas militants. However, no evidence was provided to support this assertion, and the military has disputed the casualty figures reported by Palestinian officials, suggesting they might be inflated. Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, stated that the strike targeted a mosque within the school compound, which was allegedly being used for military purposes. He emphasized that the operation was conducted with precision munitions to minimize civilian casualties.
Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, vehemently denied the Israeli claims, labeling the attack a "horrific crime" and a "dangerous escalation." Izzat El-Reshiq, a member of Hamas' political bureau, asserted that no militants were present at the school and accused Israel of using baseless pretexts to justify targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. The group called on the international community to intervene and halt what they described as ongoing atrocities against the Palestinian people.
The international reaction to the strike has been swift and severe. Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack as a "brutal crime against defenseless civilians," while the European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, expressed horror at the images emerging from the scene, stating that there is "no justification for these massacres." The United Nations Human Rights Office has also raised alarms over the increasing violence in Gaza, highlighting that at least 17 educational institutions have been targeted in recent weeks.
The United States, a key ally of Israel, expressed deep concern over the civilian casualties reported in Gaza. A spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council stated that the White House was in communication with Israeli counterparts to seek further details about the strike. Meanwhile, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are reportedly working on facilitating ceasefire negotiations between the conflicting parties, with talks scheduled to resume in the coming days.
The broader context of the conflict remains dire. The Israeli military campaign in Gaza began in October following a deadly assault by Hamas militants on southern Israel, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli casualties and more than 250 hostages taken. Since then, the Gaza Health Ministry reports that nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, with the majority being civilians, according to Palestinian officials. Israel, however, maintains that a significant portion of the casualties are militants.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is deteriorating rapidly, with nearly two million residents displaced within the enclave, according to United Nations statistics. Schools, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructures have been repeatedly targeted, exacerbating the plight of the civilian population.
As the conflict continues to escalate, international pressure is mounting on both sides to reach a ceasefire agreement and address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. The latest strike on the Al-Tabin school underscores the urgent need for a diplomatic resolution to prevent further loss of life and suffering among the civilian population.
