the Israeli military announced it killed 19 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad members in a strike on a command room located in a Gaza school complex, which has been widely condemned.
The Hamas-run civil defense agency reported that over 90 people were killed in the attack, which has led to outrage from world leaders and rights groups. The White House expressed serious concern over the civilian deaths, stating that too many lives have been lost in the ongoing conflict, according to The Times of Israel.
IDF Targets Gaza School with Precision Strikes Amid Civilian Safety Concerns
The IDF officials said they used three precise munitions to target a specific building in the school complex. IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari mentioned that they had intelligence suggesting Ashraf Juda, the commander of Islamic Jihad’s Central Camps Brigade, might have been there, but it’s not clear if he was killed.
Hagari said that Hamas has been using school buildings as military sites, which raises serious concerns for civilian safety. He added that their intelligence had been tracking an active Hamas and Islamic Jihad facility in recent weeks. The IDF said they took measures to reduce civilian risk, including using aerial surveillance and precise targeting before the strike.
Global Leaders Condemn Israeli Strike
The Israeli attack has faced strong criticism from many countries and organizations. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the attack unjustifiable. UK Foreign Minister David Lammy expressed shock and demanded an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians. France also condemned the strike, criticizing the high number of civilian casualties.
Egypt and Qatar Call for Urgent Investigation
Egypt and Qatar, who are mediating ceasefire talks, have called for an urgent investigation into the airstrike. The Qatari foreign ministry has asked for an international inquiry, including independent UN investigators, to look into the repeated attacks on schools and shelters by Israeli forces.
The conflict, which started on October 7 with a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel, has caused heavy casualties on both sides. The IDF says about 15,000 Hamas fighters have been killed, while the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reports over 39,000 deaths in the fighting, although this number has not been independently verified.
