US Vice-President Kamala Harris has denounced the loss of civilians lives in an Israeli air strike that hit a school building in Gaza on Saturday. According to a hospital director, over 70 people were killed at the site, which was housing displaced Palestinians. Harris criticized the ongoing civilian casualties and reiterated calls for a ceasefire and a hostage deal, mirroring statements from the White House.
An Israeli military spokesperson claimed that the al-Taba’een school was being used as an active military facility by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, a claim which Hamas denies. At a campaign event in Phoenix, Arizona, Harris acknowledged Israel’s right to target Hamas but stressed the importance of avoiding civilians harm.
The strike has faced criticism from Western and regional powers. Egypt suggested it showed Israel’s lack of interest in a ceasefire or ending the Gaza conflict. Fadl Naeem, head of al-Ahli Hospital, reported that around 70 victims were identified soon after the attack, with many others being too disfigured for easy identification.
The Israeli military stated they precisely targeted Hamas terrorists at a command and control center within the school, claiming at least 19 Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters were killed. Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari mentioned that intelligence indicated a high probability that Ashraf Juda, a commander of Islamic Jihad’s Central Camps Brigade, was present during the strike, though it’s unclear if he was killed.
The BBC has not verified the casualty figures independently. The Israeli spokesman contested the figures released by Hamas, stating they do not match IDF data or the accuracy of the strike. Hamas labeled the attack a “horrific crime” and a dangerous escalation in Israel’s conflict with the Palestinian people.
Sean Savett from the US National Security Council noted that while Hamas has used schools for military purposes, Israel must also minimize civilian harm. Israel has targeted several shelters in Gaza recently. The United Nations reported that by July 6, 477 out of 564 school buildings in Gaza had been damaged or hit, with additional attacks since.
The al-Taba’een school, which housed over 1,000 people including recent evacuees from Beit Hanoun, also served as a mosque. The strike occurred during dawn prayers, according to witnesses. Jaafar Taha, a nearby resident, described the scene of the bombing as chaotic and horrific.
Salim Oweis from Unicef condemned the attack, noting that schools and other shelters are crowded with civilians seeking refuge. This incident highlights the contentious nature of the Gaza conflict, with Israel accusing Hamas of using civilian sites for military purposes, while Hamas denies these allegations.
The conflict escalated after Hamas-led gunmen killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages in an attack on Israel on October 7. This led to a significant Israeli military offensive in Gaza. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 39,790 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing campaign.
