Israeli Airstrike on Gaza School Kills Dozens

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Facts

  • More than 100 people were killed and dozens more were injured after an Israeli airstrike hit a school in Gaza, the Hamas-run government of the enclave said on Saturday. Israel has disputed that death toll.[1][2]
  • Meanwhile, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged striking the Al-Taba'een school in Gaza City's Daraj neighborhood, alleging that it hit Hamas 'terrorists' operating within a Hamas command and control center.[3]
  • The statement further alleged that the IDF 'took steps to avoid harm to innocents' before launching the strike using precision munitions.[3]
  • Nadav Shoshani, an IDF spokesman, said that according to Israeli intelligence, '20 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants, including senior commanders,' were present at the site, adding: 'The compound, and the mosque that was struck within it, served as an active Hamas and Islamic Jihad military facility.'[4]
  • Hamas denied the allegations. Abu Anas, a witness who worked to rescue people, told the Associated Press that the strikes came as people were praying in the mosque before sunrise. Like most schools and mosques in Gaza, the site had been used as a shelter for those displaced from their homes.[5]
  • According to the UN, 477 out of Gaza's 564 schools were either damaged or destroyed as of July 6. Following Israel's military operations in Gaza since the Oct. 7 attacks, more than 39.7K Palestinians have been killed and at least 92K injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.[5]

Sources: [1]Reuters, [2]CNBC, [3]The Times of Israel, [4]X.com and [5]Associated Press.

Narratives

  • Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by The Times of Israel. This was a Hamas and Islamic Jihad command and control center that was used to direct terrorist attacks against Israel. The IDF took maximal steps to avoid civilian harm before striking the site with precision weapons. Responsibility lies with Hamas for exploiting Palestinians as human shields for its illegal activities.
  • Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. As Palestinians, including women and children, performed morning prayers, Israel carried out another brutal massacre. By continuing to attack schools, mosques, and other civilian sites, Israel continues to act with complete disregard for humanity and the norms of international law.

Predictions