On August 10, 2024, an Israeli airstrike targeted the Al-Taba’een school in the Al-Daraj neighborhood of Gaza City, resulting in a devastating loss of Palestinian lives. Reports from various sources indicate between 93 to 100 people were killed, including 11 children and 6 women, with dozens more injured. The attack occurred during morning prayers, striking a school that was housing thousands of displaced Palestinians.The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed they had ‘precisely struck Hamas terrorists operating within a Hamas command and control center embedded in the Al Taba’een school’. In a new development, the IDF specifically stated that 19 militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad were killed in the operation. The military also asserted that they took measures to minimize civilian casualties, including the use of precision munitions, air surveillance, and intelligence gathering.However, Palestinian sources and international observers have questioned these claims, given the high civilian death toll. Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesperson for the Gaza Civil Defense, described the scene as an ‘atrocious massacre,’ with bodies on fire and rescue teams struggling to contain the blaze and recover victims.The attack has sparked widespread international condemnation. Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, expressed horror at the incident, stating, ‘There is no justification for these massacres’. The UN Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, accused Israel of ‘genocide of the Palestinians’.This incident occurs against the backdrop of ongoing conflict, with at least 39,790 Palestinians killed since October 7, 2023, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. The attack has intensified calls for an immediate ceasefire, with the US, Qatar, and Egypt pushing for urgent negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Key points
- An Israeli airstrike on Al-Taba’een school in Gaza killed between 93 to 100 people, including civilians.
- The IDF claims to have targeted 19 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants, but faces skepticism due to high civilian casualties.
- The attack has sparked widespread international condemnation and renewed calls for a ceasefire.
Contradictions👾The IDF claims to have taken measures to minimize civilian casualties, yet reports indicate a high number of civilian deaths, including children and women.
👾There are discrepancies in the reported death toll, with some sources citing 93 deaths and others reporting over 100.
