Israel has attacked several such shelters in Gaza in the past few weeks.
According to the United Nations, 477 out of 564 school buildings in Gaza have been directly hit or damaged as of 6 July, with more than a dozen targeted since.
Al-Taba’een school housed more 1,000 people – having recently received dozens of displaced people from the town of Beit Hanoun, after the Israeli army ordered them to leave their homes.
The building also served as a mosque and the Israeli strike hit during dawn prayers, witnesses said.
Jaafar Taha, a student who lives near the school, told the BBC the sound of the bombing was followed by screaming and noise.
“‘Save us, save us,’ they were screaming,” he said.
“The scene was horrific. There were body parts everywhere and blood covering the walls.”
Salim Oweis, spokesman for the UN children’s agency, Unicef, told the BBC the attack was “really outrageous”.
“All those schools are really packed with civilians, children, mothers and families, who are taking refuge in any empty space whether it’s a school or it’s a mosque, whatever it is, even in hospital yards.”
This strike has again drawn graphic attention to a controversial dynamic of the Gaza war.
Israel claims that Hamas is using civilian infrastructure to plan and carry out attacks, and that is why it has been targeting hospitals and schools – sites protected under international law.
Hamas has consistently denied the accusations.
Source link : https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0lx2xgn55o
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Publish date : 2024-08-10 17:19:00
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