The escalating conflict in the Gaza Strip saw a tragic incident on Thursday, as a school run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza was bombed, resulting in the deaths of at least 37 people. The United States has called for Israel to be "fully transparent" about this strike.
The Israeli government has promised to release more information about the strike, including the names of those killed. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized the need for transparency, noting that Israel had cited the presence of Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters in the school but that civilian casualties were unacceptable.
According to Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israeli planes targeted three classrooms where around thirty fighters from Hamas and Islamic Jihad were allegedly hiding. This assertion was echoed by a statement from the Israeli Army, which claimed that measures were taken to reduce the risk to uninvolved civilians, including surveillance and additional intelligence.
Criticism of the strike was swift and widespread. Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, condemned the attack, noting that the coordinates of all UNRWA infrastructures had been shared with the Israeli military. Despite this, no prior warning was given, according to Lazzarini.
The Gaza government, controlled by Hamas, described the attack as a "horrible massacre" and a "crime that shames humanity." The strike injured dozens more, who were transferred to the Martyrs of Al Aqsa Hospital, which is already on the brink of collapse due to the overwhelming number of patients.
Compounding the tragedy, a malfunction of one of the hospital's electricity generators threatens to catalyze a humanitarian catastrophe. The Gaza Ministry of Health has called for urgent international intervention to prevent further loss of life among the wounded, sick, and premature babies.
The situation is part of a broader conflict that has seen Israel intensify its ground and air operations in the central Strip, taking "operational control" of key areas. More than 36,000 people have already been killed in Gaza, and casualties continue to mount as the offensive expands.
- The conflict has drawn international concern, with calls for accountability and restraint growing louder. The U.S. government maintains that civilian casualties are unacceptable, and the European Union has even suggested the possibility of sanctions.
- The International Criminal Court (ICC) is also involved, having requested an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on war crimes charges. The controversy over Israel's military actions in humanitarian zones like schools and hospitals has raised serious ethical and legal questions.
- As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the international community is urging both sides to de-escalate and seek peaceful resolutions. Efforts to provide aid and mediate between the conflicting parties continue, though the path to peace remains fraught with challenges.
