The Israeli military on Saturday said that it killed 19 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives in a strike on a command room within a Gaza school complex, which has drawn widespread condemnation.
The Hamas-run civil defence agency claimed that over 90 people were killed in the attack that sparked outrage among world leaders and rights groups. The White House expressed deep concern over the civilian casualties, stating that far too many lives have been lost in the ongoing conflict, The Times of Israel reported.
Today, the IDF and ISA struck terrorists operating in a Hamas command and control center, which was embedded inside a mosque in the Al-Taba’een school compound. Following an intelligence investigation, it can be confirmed at this time that at least 19 Hamas and Islamic Jihad… pic.twitter.com/97fw1Q9cHy— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 10, 2024
‘Mitigate the risk’
The IDF officials said the strike was executed using three “precision munitions” aimed at a specific building within the school complex. IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari noted that the military had received intelligence indicating that Ashraf Juda, the commander of Islamic Jihad’s Central Camps Brigade, was likely present during the strike, although it remains unclear if he was killed.
Hagari explained that Hamas has increasingly used school buildings as military facilities, which has raised significant concerns about civilian safety. He stated, “Over the last few weeks, our intelligence has been closely monitoring an active Hamas and Islamic Jihad military facility.” The IDF claimed that they took steps to mitigate civilian risk, including aerial surveillance before the strike and precision targeting.
“After we received clear intelligence of the threat posed by these terrorists, and in accordance with international humanitarian law, we took numerous steps to mitigate the risk to civilians. The IDF conducted a precision strike against the terrorists in one specific building of… pic.twitter.com/vViGhLzU4b— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 10, 2024
The Israeli attack has drawn sharp criticism from various countries and groups. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, condemned the attack, calling it unjustifiable. UK Foreign Minister David Lammy expressed his horror at the airstrike and called for an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians. France also condemned the strike, highlighting the unacceptable number of civilian victims.
Meanwhile, Egypt and Qatar, both mediators in ceasefire discussions, have called for urgent investigations into the airstrike. The Qatari foreign ministry demanded an international probe, including the dispatch of independent UN investigators, to examine the ongoing targeting of schools and shelters by Israeli forces.
The ongoing conflict, which reignited on October 7 when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. The IDF reports that approximately 15,000 Hamas combatants have been killed, while the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry claims that over 39,000 people have died in the fighting, a figure that remains unverified.
(With agency inputs)
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