GAZA: An Israeli airstrike on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza early Saturday has killed at least 100 Palestinian civilian worshippers, according to Gaza health authorities, in one of the deadliest strikes in the ongoing Israeli bombardments in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
The Israeli military confirmed it targeted the Tabeen school in central Gaza City, which had been converted into a refuge for displaced Palestinians. This latest strike has provoked widespread international condemnation and heightened tensions in the already volatile region.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the strike as a “new crime against humanity,” accusing the Israeli government of deliberately sabotaging ceasefire negotiations. The ministry stated, “This attack demonstrated once again that the Netanyahu government intends to undermine efforts for a permanent ceasefire.”
The Palestinian Presidency has directly held the US government responsible for the attack due to its support for Israel. Nabih Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for the Palestinian Presidency, stated, “The US administration is complicit in this massacre due to its financial, military, and political backing of Israel.”
Fatah spokesperson Munther al Hayek called the assault “a heinous crime against displaced Palestinian civilians,” urging immediate international intervention. Similarly, Hamas denounced the attack as a “massacre” and a severe crime against humanity.
Hamas has denounced the “dangerous escalation” in Gaza, which came after international mediators invited the warring sides to resume next Thursday’s talks towards a long-sought ceasefire and hostage-release deal.
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry viewed the timing of the attack as an effort by Israel to obstruct peace talks, which are set to resume next Thursday. Qatar, one of the mediators, has called for an “urgent international investigation” into the bombing of school shelters.
European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell expressed horror at the strike, highlighting the targeting of multiple schools in recent weeks. “There’s no justification for these massacres,” Borrell stated on X, referring to the social media platform.
Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the rights situation in the Palestinian territories, accused Israel of committing “genocide” against the Palestinians. Albanese criticized the use of “US and European weapons” in the attacks.
“Israel is genociding the Palestinians one neighborhood at a time, one hospital at a time, one school at a time, one refugee camp at a time, one safe zone at a time,” Francesca Albanese said on social media platform X.
Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), condemned the bombing as “another day of horror in Gaza” and called attention to the deaths of women, children, and elderly individuals.
“Another day of horror in Gaza… Another school hit with reports of dozens of Palestinian killed among them women, children and older people,” said the UN official in a brief statement on his X account.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also condemned the attack, describing it as an extension of the brutal massacres and genocide in Gaza. The OIC called it a “flagrant violation of international law” and UN resolutions.
In a press statement, the OIC considered this crime an extension of the brutal massacres and genocide committed by the occupation for more than ten months in Gaza, in flagrant violation of international law, the orders of the International Court of Justice and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry accused Israel of showing a “lack of genuine intent” to end the war, stating that the attack reflects a “blatant disregard for international and humanitarian law.”
In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and accused Tel Aviv of a “lack of genuine intent” to end the ongoing war.
The ministry said that the attack is a “blatant disregard for international and humanitarian law”. “The persistent large-scale attacks and the high civilian casualties increase whenever efforts to negotiate a ceasefire intensify,” it added.
British Foreign Minister David Lammy expressed his dismay at the strike, calling for “an immediate ceasefire” to protect civilians and end the blockade on aid. “Appalled by the Israeli Military strike on al-Tabeen school and the tragic loss of life,” Lammy wrote on X, adding: “We need an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians, free all hostages, and end restrictions on aid.”
France has said it condemned “in the firmest of terms” an Israeli strike on a religious school housing displaced people in Gaza.
“For several weeks, school buildings have been repeatedly targeted, with an intolerable number of civilian victims,” the French foreign ministry said. “Israel must respect international humanitarian law,” it added.
