LAST UPDATE | 10 Aug 2024

AN ISRAELI STRIKE on a school in Gaza City has killed 93 people with dozens more wounded, Gaza’s civil defence agency has said.

AFP could not independently verify the death toll which, if confirmed, would appear to be one of the largest from a single strike during 10 months of war between Israel and Hamas Palestinian militants.

The agency said Israeli rockets hit the school in Gaza City, describing the incident as a “horrific massacre”, with some bodies catching fire.

“Three Israeli rockets hit the school that was housing displaced Palestinians,” agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.

Israel’s army said Saturday it had “precisely struck Hamas terrorists operating within a Hamas command and control center embedded in the Al-Taba’een school”.

“Numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and intelligence information,” a statement said.

The military has repeatedly made similar accusations after strikes on the school shelters. Hamas has previously denied Israeli claims that it uses schools, hospitals and other civilian facilities for military aims.

The strike comes two days after Gazan authorities said more than 18 people were killed in Israeli strikes on two other schools in Gaza City, with the military saying at the time it had struck Hamas command centres.

Gaza government media sources said the school was housing about 250 people.

According to the United Nations, 477 out of 564 schools in Gaza have been directly hit or damaged in the war as of July 6.

Ceasefire talks

Israel has vowed to destroy the Palestinian group in retaliation for its October 7 attack, but agreed to resume talks next week at the request of international mediators following intense diplomacy aimed at averting a region-wide conflagration.

Iran has accused Israel of wanting to spread war in the Middle East, and Hamas officials, some analysts and critics in Israel have said Netanyahu has prolonged the fighting.

Israel and Hamas have been invited to resume talks mediated by the United States, Quatar and Egypt on August 15. 

Recent discussions have focused on a framework outlined by US President Joe Biden in late May and later endorsed by the UN Security Council.

Horrified by images from a sheltering school in Gaza hit by an Israeli strike, w/ reportedly dozens of Palestinian victims.

At least 10 schools were targeted in the last weeks. There’s no justification for these massacres

We are dismayed by the terrible overall death toll. 1/2

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) August 10, 2024

Condemning today’s attack, President Michael D Higgins said the “outrageous” level of killing must end with an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and the immediate provision of all necessary aid.

Higgins said the comments made by the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, that there is no justification for the massacres which have taken place following the targeting of at least 10 schools in recent weeks must be taken with the utmost seriousness by all EU Member States.

“Practical measures of a diplomatic kind are now urgently needed to ensure there is no further extension of the loss of life and total devastation of infrastructure in the region.

“There is no room anymore for anyone to avert their gaze,” Higgins said.

Contains reporting from Press Association and Jane Matthews.