Hamas claimed that Israel attacked a shelter converted from a school in Gaza on Saturday (August 10), killing about 100 Palestinians. Israel admitted to carrying out the airstrike, but stated that their target was the armed command center of militants inside the school, and accused Hamas of exaggerating the casualty figures.
The Hamas media office stated that the attack occurred while people taking refuge in the school were performing dawn prayers, resulting in multiple casualties. The statement mentioned that not all bodies have been located by medical personnel yet.
The Israeli military, on the other hand, stated that they conducted the airstrike on the command and control center where Hamas fighters were hiding. The Israeli military emphasized that they have taken measures to minimize civilian casualties, including the use of precision ammunition and utilizing aerial surveillance to strike targets accurately.
In a statement, Israel indicated that based on their intelligence, around 20 Hamas and Islamic Jihad armed militants, including senior commanders, were active inside the building of Al-Taba’een school during the airstrike, plotting terror attacks from there.
The Israeli military stated that the targeted structure was a “military facility being used by Hamas and Islamic Jihad organizations.”
Furthermore, the military mentioned that according to their preliminary review, the casualty numbers publicized by Hamas-managed Gaza government’s news office do not align with the information possessed by the Israeli Defense Forces.
“The Israeli Defense Forces will continue reviewing the information released by Hamas sources and urge the media to act with caution as these pieces of information have been proven to be highly unreliable,” the Israeli military stated.
However, Hamas described the attack as a heinous crime that has significantly escalated the situation.
Israel accused the militant group of operating among Gaza civilians, conducting activities in schools, hospitals, and designated humanitarian zones, a claim which Hamas denied.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, stating that the assault on Gaza civilians indicates Israel’s lack of intention to end the war.
Previously, leaders from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar called for Israel and Hamas to resume ceasefire negotiations next Thursday (August 15). Reports suggest that if negotiations resume successfully, CIA Director William Burns is expected to lead the delegation at the meeting.
This is the latest effort by the Biden administration to end the Gaza conflict, with Israel indicating readiness to send a delegation, while Hamas has not responded yet. However, Saturday’s attack may hinder efforts to resume ceasefire negotiations.
Recently, senior figures from Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon were killed. There is increasing concern that Iran and its supported armed groups are preparing to coordinate operations, triggering a broader conflict in the Middle East.