Conflict in the Middle Eastern region - Israeli military targets school anew
The Israeli army seems to have once again struck a UNRWA school compound to target a Hamas militant group. The militants had been using a container at the school in the Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip as their meeting spot. According to the military, they were also planning assaults from there. Through the airstrike, terrorists were killed, though the army didn't disclose the exact number.
Eyewitnesses who spoke to the German Press Agency confirmed the Israeli assault on the container. They also reported several casualties, but no civilians were hurt so far.
The Israeli army claimed that Hamas strategically places its infrastructure in civilian areas, putting the lives of Gaza Strip civilians at risk. The military asserted that they took several steps to minimize civilian harm prior to the attack.
Just yesterday, the Israeli army launched an assault on a school in the Gaza Strip, leading to the death of at least 30 people, including women and children, according to Palestinian authorities. Hamas claimed there were 40 deceased. Owing to the ongoing conflict since October, many displaced individuals have sought refuge in UN schools.
The US State Department is calling for a thorough investigation into the school attack. Despite the Israeli army's claim of trying to kill 20 to 30 extremists and in the process harming children, US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller commented, "That shows something is wrong."
EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell has also called for an independent investigation into the school attack. There's still ambiguity surrounding a plan made by US President Joe Biden to end the Gaza Strip conflict publicized recently. "We haven't yet received an official response from Hamas," Miller said.
In the last night's Israeli air raid, at least 30 fatalities were confirmed by Palestinian authorities, with the Islamist Hamas claiming that the death toll was 40. Over 50 injuries were reported as well. The majority of the victims were females, kids, and teenagers.
The school building in the Nuseirat refugee camp was acting as temporary shelter for UNRWA. The Israeli army alleged that 20 to 30 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad members were present in three classrooms, planning and executing attacks. Initial findings suggest that many of them were killed.
Israeli army spokeperson, Daniel Hagari, noted that intelligence reports had reported "no women or children" in the affected area. The school had been under observation in recent days, and the assault had been delayed twice to prevent civilian injuries.
Miller characterized the situation as complex, stating that Israel has the right to attack extremists if they're situated in the school. However, these extremists were in close proximity to civilians, and Israel has the responsibility to safeguard civilians. "The Israeli government and its military must be completely transparent about what happened."
Since the outset of the conflict, school buildings belonging to the UN Palestinian Relief Agency have been used as shelter for displaced individuals, in hopes that Israel's army would steer clear of UN buildings. Israel, on the other hand, accuses Hamas of operating from civilian establishments and jeopardizing the safety of civilians or purposely using them as a cover.
Hagari made known the identities of those killed extremists would be disclosed, with some of them involved in the massacre of October 7 in 2020- the most deadly incident in Israel's history. At that time, Hamas and other extremist groups infiltrated Israel from Gaza Strip, slaughtered over 1,200 people, and kidnapped over 250 hostages into Gaza Strip, under Hamas control.
The US military has fixed the damaged pier on the Gaza coast, allowing for the resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries. The Pentagon had previously announced that the pier would be restored by week's end, enabling aid shipments to restart.
The pier had been compromised only a few days after its completion, with rough seas damaging it. Four ships involved in the disaster relief mission were uprooted from their anchorages.
The US, Germany, France, and Great Britain urged Hamas to accept the peace proposal presented by US President Biden to put an end to the Gaza war and enact it promptly. The plan consists of three stages. First, a full and unrestricted ceasefire; second, the cementing of this ceasefire through negotiation during the ceasefire; and third, a permanent ceasefire achieved through conditions agreed upon in the previous stage. The only way Hamas will approve an agreement, however, is if it assures a permanent ceasefire.
Hamas's leader Yahya al-Sinwar, reportedly in hiding in Gaza, is against any settlement with Israel that involves disarming his terrorist militia, as reported by US media. Al-Sinwar has allegedly ordered his negotiators not to agree to any deal that requires the surrendering of their weapons. This information was obtained by the "Wall Street Journal" from Arab intermediaries in contact with the Hamas delegates.
Earlier, the state-run Egyptian TV channel Al-Kahira News quoted high-ranking officials in Egypt stating that the Hamas would react to the proposal within a few days. Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are the intermediators in these negotiations. Israel and the Hamas do not directly converse.
