Tragic Assault: Global Reactions to Israeli Airstrike on Gaza School

Saturday 10 August 2024 - 13:00

An Israeli airstrike on a school repurposed as a shelter for displaced Palestinians in Gaza City has resulted in the deaths of over 100 individuals, including women and children. This tragic incident, according to Palestinian officials, is expected to see the death toll rise further.

On Saturday, the Israeli military claimed that its airstrike targeted a “command and control center” used by Hamas at the al-Tabin school. The military did not provide evidence to substantiate this claim and stated that measures were taken to minimize civilian casualties. However, it dismissed the Palestinian death toll as inaccurate.

Reactions to the Attack

Hamas
Hamas condemned the attack on al-Tabin school in the Daraj neighborhood, calling it a “horrific crime” that represents a dangerous escalation. Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, asserted that there were no armed individuals present at the school. Hamas denounced Israel’s justification for the attack, labeling it as a pretext to target civilians and crucial infrastructure. The group urged Arab and Islamic nations, along with the international community, to take urgent action to stop what they described as escalating aggression against innocent Palestinians.

Fatah
The Fatah faction, which recently signed a “national unity” agreement with Hamas, described the attack as a “heinous bloody massacre,” characterizing it as a peak of terrorism and criminality. Fatah's statement condemned the attack as part of a broader policy of systematic killing aimed at exterminating Palestinians through large-scale violence.

Iran
Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, accused the Israeli government of sabotaging ceasefire negotiations and perpetuating the conflict. Nasser Kanaani, a spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned the strike as a violation of international law and a war crime. Kanaani called for immediate action from the UN Security Council and highlighted the threat posed by Israel’s actions to global peace and security.

Egypt
Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Israel for its “deliberate killing” of unarmed Palestinians, suggesting a lack of political will to end the Gaza conflict. The ministry accused Israel of committing “large-scale crimes” against civilians in response to international ceasefire efforts. The statement, reported by the state-run Middle East News Agency, noted an “unprecedented disregard” for international law. Egypt, alongside the United States and Qatar, has called for new ceasefire negotiations amidst fears of a broader regional conflict involving Iran and Hezbollah.

Jordan
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry denounced the Israeli attack as contrary to “all humanitarian values” and indicative of Israel’s attempts to obstruct peace efforts. The ministry criticized the international community's lack of decisive action to restrain Israeli aggression and ensure adherence to international law, which it claims has led to unprecedented violence and humanitarian crises in Gaza.

UN Special Rapporteur
Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, condemned the global “indifference” towards the escalating bloodshed in Gaza. Albanese accused Israel of systematically targeting Palestinian neighborhoods, hospitals, schools, and refugee camps with weapons supplied by the US and Europe. She expressed remorse over the international community’s failure to protect Palestinians and uphold the principles of international law.

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
The OIC described the strike as “an extension of the brutal massacres and genocide” perpetrated by Israeli forces in Gaza over the past ten months. The organization called on the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to hold Israel accountable for its obligations under international law and to ensure the protection of the Palestinian people.