The European Union’s diplomat, Josep Borrell, has expressed horror at Israel’s airstrike on a school in Gaza that reportedly killed around 100 people earlier this week. The attack by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was allegedly targeting a “Hamas control center”, however the Palestinian militant group denied having any base at the Tabeen school, which was being used to shelter displaced people, including women and children.
According to media estimates, up to 6,000 people may have been taking refuge at the school when it was hit by three Israeli missiles. The EU’s diplomat condemned the airstrikes on schools in the conflict area, stating that there is “no justification for these massacres. He also expressed dismay over the overall death toll of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The violence began when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israeli settlements near Gaza last year, killing around 1,100 people and taking more than 200 hostages. West Jerusalem responded with a bombing campaign followed by a ground operation in Gaza. The hostilities have resulted in the deaths of approximately 40,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Moscow has also condemned the Israeli attack on the Tabeen school, calling on Israel to refrain from attacking civilian targets. Several nations, including Qatar, Egypt, and the US, have sought to mediate a truce between the warring parties. The White House recently published a joint statement from Washington, Doha, and Cairo calling on both sides to conclude a ceasefire and exchange hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody.
However, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized the proposed deal as a “surrender” and a “dangerous trap”, sparking outrage in Washington. White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby stated that the administration of President Joe Biden would not allow extremists to derail efforts towards peace.
EU’s diplomat, Borrell, also criticized Smotrich for opposing the proposed ceasefire deal, calling it “the only way to stop the killing of civilians and secure the hostages’ release. The conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate, with the airstrike on the Tabeen school being a horrifying example of the impact these attacks are having on innocent lives.