Israeli Airstrike Hits Gaza School, Killing More than 70: Hospital Director
An Israeli strike on a school in Gaza City that was sheltering displaced Palestinians has killed over 70 people, said Fadl Naeem, the director of al-Ahli Hospital.
Gaza School Attack: Tragedy at Shelter of Displaced Palestinians
The officials there had to admit many casualties from among the victims, many of whom were beyond recognition because of their highly mutilated condition. The strike has widely been condemned by Western powers and regional countries alike, who argue that the attack reflects Israel’s unwillingness to pursue a ceasefire or de-escalate the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In recent weeks, Israeli forces have targeted multiple shelters in Gaza, heightening fears for the safety of civilians.
Background of the Attack
The al-Taba’een school had been housing over 1,000 displaced people prior to the addition of new evacuees from the town of Beit Hanoun after an order by the Israeli military to leave their homes. Not only was the school to be used to provide emergency shelter, but also as a mosque. An airstrike hit at dawn prayers, another element adding to tragedy in the death toll since many would have been there to pray.
Eyewitnesses said the scene was horrific after the bomb exploded. Jaafar Taha, a student living near the scene, said that moments after the blast were like this: “The sound of the bombing was followed by screaming and noise. ‘Save us, save us,’ they were screaming. The scene was horrific. There were body parts everywhere and blood covering the walls.”
International Reactions
A UNICEF spokesperson, Salim Oweis, criticized the assault, stating that the schools are full with civilians who have sought refuge there. “All those schools are really jammed with civilians, children, mothers and families who are taking refuge in any empty space, whether it’s a school or a mosque, whatever it is, even in hospital yards,” he said. This incident brings into light the worsening situation in Gaza where civilian infrastructure is increasingly under threat amid ongoing hostilities.
The Israeli military justified the strike by claiming that al-Taba’een was a military facility for Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Hamas, however, has consistently denied these claims. Indeed, Israel has repeatedly justified attacks against civilian locations on the grounds that Hamas operates from these locations, further complicating the humanitarian landscape of the conflict.
Impact on Ceasefire Efforts
The latest strike on the al-Taba’een school seems to be one of the deadliest incidents in this throttling conflict and is likely to raise the pitch of demands for a ceasefire. One of the mediators, Egypt, has attacked Israel’s actions, saying that it “deliberately kills” unarmed Palestinians, and there is no political will or intention to put an end to the war. Another mediator, Qatar, joined in the ceasefire discussions with urgent calls for an international investigation into the attack.
The United Nations reports that Israel has hit hundreds of educational institutions since early July; statistics say that 477 of the total 564 school buildings were either directly hit or damaged as of July 6. Many of those were schools run by the UN before the conflict broke out, it said. It condemned the attacks.
Human Cost of War
The human casualty count in the violence perpetrated in Gaza is overwhelming. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 39,790 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the Israeli military campaign. This huge number accounts for the devastating toll of war on civilians who are taking shelter in places like schools and hospitals, as they think these are comparatively safer than being on the streets.
The conflict dramatically intensified after Hamas-led gunmen killed some 1,200 people in an October 7 attack on Israel, whisking away 251 hostages back to Gaza. In response, Israel has launched a vast military offensive that has destroyed entire areas and caused hundreds of deaths in the densely populated Gaza Strip.
Conclusion
This tragic airstrike on al-Taba’een school is a grim reminder of the humanitarian crisis that has continued to engulf the Gaza region. As calls for a truce get louder, the world stands in chagrin while there are increasing appeals for the two sides to spare civilians from danger and enter into meaningful negotiations. Tuesday’s attack was not the first assault on these densely populated areas and was not to be the last—this loss of life contributing to the mounting death toll for the conflict and underlining the pressing need for a resolution to avoid further pointless suffering of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
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