Israel Claims Strike Targeted Hamas Command Center at Gaza School

Israel’s airstrike on the Tabeen school in northern Gaza on Saturday has ignited a fierce debate over casualty figures and drawn widespread international condemnation.

According to local health officials, the attack resulted in at least 90 fatalities. The Tabeen school, located in Gaza City, was reportedly sheltering over a dozen Hamas operatives and senior commanders at the time of the strike.

An Israeli airstrike on a Gaza school compound housing displaced families killed around 100 people, the Hamas-run Gaza government said on Saturday. REUTERS

Fadel Naeem, the director of al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, confirmed that the facility received 70 bodies and body parts from at least ten other victims. Meanwhile, Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for the Hamas-run Palestinian Civil Defense, reported that more than 93 individuals, including 11 children and six women, were killed in the attack.

The Israeli military said it targeted Hamas militants there and cast doubt on the death toll. REUTERS

Gaza’s Hamas-run media office claimed that those inside the school were engaged in dawn prayers during the strike. Izzat El-Reshiq, a member of Hamas’ political office, asserted that none of the casualties were militants.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have contested these figures, describing them as inflated. The IDF claims that the actual number of casualties was lower, estimating around 20 Hamas operatives were killed. The IDF’s operation targeted what it described as an “active” Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad command centre located within a mosque at the Tabeen school. Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani of the IDF stated that Hamas used the facility to plan attacks against Israeli forces and that precautions were taken to minimize civilian harm.

“So far, there are more than 93 martyrs, including 11 children and six women. There are unidentified remains,” said Palestinian Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal. REUTERS

Israeli military officials criticized Hamas for allegedly using civilians and public institutions as human shields for their operations. The IDF’s claims were supported by recent assessments suggesting that as the conflict continues, Hamas operatives are increasingly forced to relocate from tunnels to above-ground locations, where they blend in with civilians.

The strike has been met with strong reactions from international leaders. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed horror at the images from the strike and condemned the high death toll, accusing Israel of excessive force. Egypt’s foreign ministry criticized the attack as indicative of Israel’s lack of “political will” to pursue a ceasefire, while Qatar labelled it a “horrific massacre.”

Displaced Palestinians watch as first responders prepare to transport the corpses of people killed in the attack. AFP via Getty Images

Both Egypt and Qatar, along with the United States, have called for renewed ceasefire discussions between Israel and Hamas, with a proposed date for talks set for August 15.

The ongoing conflict, which began with a Hamas assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, has now entered its tenth month. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, over 39,790 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, though this figure includes both civilians and fighters. The IDF reports that 689 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 4,303 wounded.

In another part of the Tabeen school complex, men prayed over a dozen body bags laid out on the ground. REUTERS

In other developments, Jordan is reportedly allowing Israel to use its airspace to prevent a potential Iranian attack in retaliation for the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Jordan has officially denied this claim. Additionally, the IDF reported the killing of senior Hamas commander Walid al-Sousi in an airstrike on Friday night.

Two floors were hit; the upper floor housed families, including women and children, and the lower floor was used as a mosque. AFP via Getty Images

Al-Sousi was reportedly responsible for managing intelligence and eliminating opposition to Hamas’Hamas’ol in Gaza’sGaza’sern region. Meanwhile, the US Central Command announced the destruction of a Houthi missile launcher and drone boats in Yemen, as well as Houthi drones over the Red Sea.