Conflict in Gaza: Israeli air strike kills around 100 people in school complex
The compound housing approximately 6,000 displaced people was hit as many prepared for dawn prayers.
The image shows the courtyard of a school in Gaza City after an Israeli airstrike that took place on Saturday, August 10, 2024 - Photo Reproduction / AP
The conflict between Israel and Hamas had a dramatic escalation this Saturday (10), when an Israeli air strike killed approximately 100 people in a school complex in Gaza, according to health authorities. The place served as a shelter for displaced civilians, who sought to escape the fighting. The Israeli army admitted that the target was the school Tabeen, located in central Gaza, claiming to have hit a Hamas command center within the institution. However, Hamas refuted this claim.
Estimates for the death toll range between 70 and 100. Gaza health authorities report more than 90 deaths, while the Hamas-controlled Gaza government claims the number exceeds 100. In an interview with the BBC, the director of Al-Ahli Hospital, where many of the victims were taken, said the attack resulted in the deaths of at least 70 people.
The Attack
The attack occurred without warning, in the early hours of the morning, before sunrise, while worshipers were praying in a mosque located inside a school, as reported by the Hamas press office. Mahmoud Puddle, spokesman for Civil Defense rescuers operating under the Hamas-run local government, said three missiles hit the two-story building. The first floor houses the mosque, while the second is the school, where around 6,000 displaced people were taking shelter from the war.
The Israeli army reported that its air forces struck a Hamas command and control center, which also served as a hideout for terrorists and group commanders. Approximately 20 "militants" were operating there. The Israeli Air Force accurately targeted the Hamas command center, which was located at the Al-Taba'een, next to a mosque in Daraj Tuffah, an area that serves as a shelter for Gaza City residents. According to the Israeli army, several precautions were taken before the attack to minimize the risk of harm to civilians, including the use of precision munitions, aerial surveillance and intelligence information.
Abu Anas, who participated in rescuing the injured, told the Associated Press (AP) news agency that there were people praying, washing and sleeping upstairs, including children, women and the elderly. The missile hit them without warning, the first and second missile. They were found in pieces. Dr. Fadel Naeem, director of al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City, told AP that the unit received 70 bodies and body parts from at least 10 other people due to the attacks. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Naeem described Saturday as "one of the hardest days".
“The situation at the hospital is catastrophic, with a severe shortage of medical supplies and resources due to the horrific Israeli massacre, which resulted in numerous amputations and severe burns,” he said.
Currently, the attack on the school Tabeen resulted in one of the highest death tolls in a single incident throughout the 10-month war between Israel and Hamas.
Gaza population
Israeli forces have attacked at least 10 schools since the beginning of July, including four in a span of four days, which has contributed to an alarming rise in the death toll in the war in Gaza, which is now approaching 40,000 victims. Israel blames Hamas for civilian casualties, claiming that its fighters use civilian infrastructure as a shield, making buildings such as schools and hospitals legitimate targets.
Hamas denies these accusations. Virtually the entire population of 2.3 million people in the Gaza Strip was forced to leave their homes, often more than once, during almost a year of conflict. Schools, in particular, have been used as shelters. According to the civil defense service, three missiles hit a two-story building, where women occupied the upper floor, while men and boys used the ground floor, which also served as a space for prayers.
Repercussion
fighter." The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority also issued a rare statement on the incident. A spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas called on the US, Israel's main diplomatic ally and arms supplier, to cease "blind support "that resulted in the death of thousands of innocent civilians, including children, women and the elderly.
Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, said in a statement published on X (formerly Twitter): "There is no justification for these massacres." The UK Foreign Minister, David Lammy, said he was "horrified" by what happened. Jordan and Egypt also swiftly condemned the attack. Egypt's Foreign Ministry declared that Israel's "deliberate killing" of Palestinians highlights a lack of political will to end the conflict in Gaza.
Negotiations
Egypt, along with the US and Qatar, called this week for Israel and Hamas to resume negotiations with the aim of finalizing a ceasefire and a hostage release agreement, stressing that there was no justification for further delays. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would send a delegation to the negotiations, scheduled to begin on August 15. His administration has been accused of repeatedly sabotaging ceasefire attempts. So far, Hamas has not responded, and it is unclear whether the latest deadly attack will influence the militant group's stance. This Saturday, Iran joined the condemnations, classifying the attack on Tabeen as "barbaric" and a "war crime".
