By V.E.K.Madhushani, Jadetimes News
"Urges Immediate Ceasefire Amid Growing International Outcry"
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the significant loss of civilian life in a recent Israeli airstrike on a school building in Gaza. The attack, which occurred on Saturday, resulted in the deaths of more than 70 people, many of whom were displaced Palestinians seeking shelter. The head of a local hospital reported the casualties, noting the difficulty in identifying many of the victims due to severe disfigurement.
During a campaign event in Phoenix, Arizona, Vice President Harris expressed deep concern over the incident, stating that "far too many" civilians had been killed "yet again." She reiterated calls for a ceasefire and emphasized the importance of securing a hostage deal, echoing the White House's stance. While acknowledging Israel's right to target Hamas, she stressed the nation's "important responsibility" to minimize civilian casualties.
The Israeli military justified the airstrike by claiming that the al-Taba'een school served as a Hamas and Islamic Jihad military facility, a claim that Hamas has denied. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the strike "precisely targeted" Hamas terrorists operating from the school, with at least 19 militants reportedly killed. The IDF also suggested that Ashraf Juda, a senior commander of Islamic Jihad’s Central Camps Brigade, may have been present at the site during the attack, though this has not been confirmed.
The incident has drawn widespread international criticism. Western and regional powers, including Egypt, have condemned the strike, arguing that it undermines efforts to achieve a ceasefire and end the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The U.S. National Security Council acknowledged that Hamas had been using civilian infrastructure, such as schools, for military operations but reiterated that Israel must take measures to prevent civilian harm.
This airstrike is part of a broader pattern of Israeli attacks on shelters in Gaza, with many school buildings being targeted in recent weeks. According to the United Nations, 477 out of 564 schools in Gaza have been hit or damaged as of early July, with more than a dozen directly targeted since.
The strike, which occurred during dawn prayers, has further fueled tensions in the region. Witnesses described the aftermath as "horrific," with bodies scattered and walls stained with blood. UNICEF also condemned the attack, calling it "outrageous" given the large number of civilians, including children, who were taking refuge in the school.
This incident has highlighted the complex and controversial nature of the conflict in Gaza. While Israel insists that its strikes are aimed at neutralizing Hamas, the heavy civilian toll has drawn severe criticism and calls for an urgent ceasefire. The ongoing conflict, which began following a deadly Hamas-led attack on Israel in October, has resulted in over 39,790 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.
