In another devastating attack, more than 100 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured when three Israeli bombs struck the Al-Taba'een school in Gaza City on Saturday morning as the displaced had gathered for Fajr prayers at dawn.
The school-turned-shelter, located in the Daraj district, is the temporary home for at least 1,000 displaced people. The strike, described by Gaza’s civil defense agency as a “horrific massacre,” occurred during morning prayers, causing a fire that engulfed the building. The death toll includes women, children, and the elderly. The Israeli army has used three 2,000-pound (907 kg) bombs to attack the school, and knew about the presence of civilians on the compound, Gaza's government media office has stated.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has claimed that its recent airstrike on the al-Taba'een school was aimed at a “command and control centre” used by Hamas. The Israeli military alleged that intelligence indicated 20 Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters, including senior commanders, were present at the school. As always, they also dismissed the civilian casualty figures reported by Palestinian authorities as “exaggerated.”
Condemnations and the US Support for Israel:
The attack on the refugees' shelter comes right after the United States releases $3.5 billion for Israel to buy US-made weapons. Israel has repeatedly bombed civilian shelters, refugee encampments and hospitals over the past weeks. The United Nations' Special Rapporteur on Occupied Palestinian Territory, Francesca Albanese stated on X (formerly Twitter), "In the largest and most shameful concentration camp of the 21st century, Israel is genociding the Palestinians one neighborhood at the time, one hospital at the time, one school at the time, one refugee camp at the time, one 'safe zone' at the time. With US and European weapons. And amid the indifference of all "civilised nations". May the Palestinians forgive us for our collective inability to protect them, honoring the most basic meaning of international law."
Gaza: In the largest and most shameful concentration camp of the 21st century, Israel is genociding the Palestinians one neighborhood at the time, one hospital at the time, one school at the time, one refugee camp at the time, one 'safe zone' at the time. With US and European… https://t.co/bHmrFbySYi
— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) August 10, 2024
Calling for an arms embargo, Palestinian American human rights attorney and academic Noura Erakat posted, "Palestinians trapped in a burning building set ablaze by US-provided missiles that can't be put out because the Israeli military cut off water."
Horrifying: Palestinians trapped in burning building set ablaze by US-provided missiles that cant be put out bc the Israeli military cut off water. #Gaza #Genocide #Nakba pic.twitter.com/h8HYDsQ932
— Noura Erakat (@4noura) August 10, 2024