More than 100 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in an Israeli strike on a Gaza school that was sheltering displaced people, the Gaza government reported on Saturday.
The strike occurred during dawn prayers, leading to a high number of casualties among those taking refuge at the school, according to a statement from the media office. Medics have been unable to retrieve all the bodies so far.
Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that the death toll from this latest Israeli strike had surpassed 90.
AFP was unable to independently verify the exact toll. If confirmed, this would represent one of the deadliest single strikes in over 10 months of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza against Hamas.
Footage from the scene revealed body parts scattered across the ground, with more bodies being carried away, wrapped in blankets. Blood-stained empty food tins, burnt mattresses, and a child’s doll were among the debris.
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Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defense, stated in a televised news conference, “So far, there are more than 93 martyrs, including 11 children and six women. There are unidentified remains.”
The Israeli military claimed that the airstrike targeted a command and control center where Hamas fighters were allegedly hiding. Hamas denounced the strike as a “horrific crime” and a significant escalation.
This incident marks the 14th school struck in Gaza since July 6, with more than 280 people killed, according to an AFP tally of previous tolls reported by local officials.
AFPTV live images from the site showed a large complex with debris scattered throughout the courtyard. Part of the structure appeared to be a mosque, with the upper story partially destroyed and charred.
The images depicted bodies shrouded in white, bloodstains on the ground, and smoke rising from the rubble. Around 6,000 people had been sheltering at the compound. The Gaza health ministry has yet to provide detailed casualty information.
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Israel asserts that Hamas operates within civilian areas, including schools, hospitals, and humanitarian zones, a claim that Hamas denies.
An Israeli military spokesperson alleged that about 20 Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters were using the school as a base. “The compound, including the mosque, served as an active Hamas and Islamic Jihad military facility,” said Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani on X.
He also mentioned that the casualty figures provided by the Gaza media office did not match the information held by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), considering the precision of the strike and the munitions used.
The Israeli military emphasized that efforts were made to minimize civilian harm, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and intelligence. The military has not commented on the casualty reports from Gaza.
‘Horrific’ Strike Amid Ceasefire Efforts
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, urged the United States to end its “blind support” for Israel, which he claimed leads to the killing of innocent civilians, including children, women, and the elderly.
The strike was condemned by Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, as mediators pushed to resume ceasefire talks. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri suggested that this incident should be a turning point in the efforts.
Egypt argued that the killing of Gaza civilians demonstrated Israel’s lack of intent to end the conflict, while Qatar’s foreign ministry described the strike as a “horrific massacre.”
Ceasefire negotiations between Egypt, the United States, and Qatar are scheduled for Thursday, amid growing fears of a broader conflict involving Iran and its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has vowed to continue hostilities until Hamas no longer threatens Israelis, announced that a delegation would be sent to the August 15 talks.
A Hamas official told Reuters that the group was considering the new offer for talks but did not provide further details.
Israel launched its offensive in Gaza after Hamas fighters stormed southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing over 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
Since then, nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the Palestinian health ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians.
Health officials report that most of the fatalities have been civilians. Israel, which has lost 329 lives in Gaza, claims that at least a third of the Palestinian fatalities are fighters. Hamas does not release its casualty figures.