An Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza City, used as a shelter, killed at least 80 people on August 10, 2024, sparking international condemnation amid escalating tensions in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Gaza City, August 10, 2024 — In one of the deadliest incidents of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, an Israeli airstrike on a school in central Gaza City early Saturday morning has left at least 80 people dead, according to Palestinian health officials. The Tabeen school, which had been repurposed as a shelter for displaced families, was struck by multiple missiles, causing extensive damage and significant loss of life.
The Incident
The strike occurred before dawn, targeting the Tabeen school, where approximately 6,000 people, including many women and children, had sought refuge from the violence that has gripped the region for nearly a year. The school, which also housed a mosque, was struck by three missiles, devastating the structure and leaving many casualties trapped in the rubble.
Video footage and images from the scene depict a harrowing aftermath: walls blown out, debris scattered across blood-soaked floors, and a blackened car buried under rubble. Rescue workers described the scene as chaotic, with many of the victims unrecognizable due to the severity of their injuries. The al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City reported receiving at least 70 bodies, with dozens more severely wounded, some requiring amputations.
Israeli Justification and International Response
The Israeli military has acknowledged responsibility for the strike, stating that the school was being used as a Hamas command center. According to Israeli intelligence, the compound housed senior commanders from both Hamas and Islamic Jihad, who were allegedly planning attacks against Israeli forces. The military argued that such operations are necessary to neutralize threats posed by militants who, they claim, deliberately operate within civilian areas to maximize casualties when attacked.
Hamas, however, vehemently denied these allegations, insisting that the school was purely a civilian refuge. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from the international community. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, described the attack as a "massacre" with "no justification," emphasizing that international law requires the protection of civilians, especially those in designated shelters.
Broader Context
This tragic event is the latest in a series of strikes on schools in Gaza, many of which have been serving as shelters for those displaced by the conflict. According to the United Nations, at least 17 schools have been attacked in the past month, resulting in the deaths of over 160 people, predominantly women and children. The U.N. has called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and to ensure the safety of civilians.
The strike on the Tabeen school is expected to escalate tensions further, complicating ongoing efforts by international mediators from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to broker a ceasefire. As the death toll continues to rise, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, with hundreds of thousands of people now displaced and living in increasingly dire conditions.
Stay tuned for updates...
Israeli airstrike, Gaza school, August 10, 2024, civilian casualties, Israel-Hamas conflict, Tabeen school, international condemnation, humanitarian crisis, Gaza City, displaced civilians
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