On August 10, 2024, an Israeli airstrike targeted the Al-Taba’een school in Gaza City, resulting in a devastating loss of Palestinian lives. Reports from various sources indicate between 90 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’. The IDF specifically stated that 19 militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad were killed in the operation. In a new development, the Israeli military has released the names, photos, and roles of the 19 eliminated operatives, asserting that Hamas systematically violates international law by operating from civilian shelters and using the population as human shields.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 French government condemned the attack, stating that ‘since several weeks, schools are being targeted repeatedly, with an unbearable number of civilian victims’.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 90-100 people, including children and women.
- The IDF claims to have targeted Hamas militants, releasing names and photos of 19 alleged operatives killed.
- International community, including the EU and France, has strongly condemned the attack.
- The incident has intensified calls for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing conflict.
Contradictions👾There is a discrepancy between the IDF’s claim of targeting militants and the high civilian death toll reported by Palestinian sources and international observers.
👾The Israeli military questions the reported death toll, citing a discrepancy with its own assessment.
