On the 309th day of the Gaza war, Israel launched a devastating attack on the Al-Tabaeen school, a shelter for hundreds of Palestinian refugees. The bombing resulted in dozens of refugees being killed and wounded, with many bodies burned in a massive fire that engulfed the area.
The attack is just the latest in a series of strikes on schools and hospitals in Gaza, which have been repeatedly targeted by Israel. Each time, Israel claims that these civilian facilities are centers of Hamas activities, but has never been able to provide any evidence to back up its claims.
This is not the first time Israel has attacked schools in Gaza. Just days before the Al-Tabaeen school was bombed, Israel struck the Abdul Fattah Hamouda and Al-Zahra schools, killing and wounding several refugees.
The devastating impact of these attacks on education in Gaza cannot be overstated. At least 115 schools and universities have been completely destroyed in the past 10 months, resulting in the loss of 500 teachers and school principals, 100 scientists, researchers and university professors, and 9,000 students.
The international community has condemned Israel’s attacks on civilian targets, calling them a violation of international law. Human rights groups have accused Israel of pursuing a genocidal policy of deliberately targeting schools and hospitals, which are recognized as safe zones under international law.
The more Israel attacks these civilian targets, the easier it becomes to do so. The situation in Gaza is dire, with thousands of refugees struggling to survive amidst the chaos and destruction. The world must act to stop these attacks and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.