United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese renewed her accusations against the Jewish state, claiming in an X, formerly Twitter, post on Saturday that “Israel is genociding the Palestinians.”
Gaza: In the largest and most shameful concentration camp of the 21st century, Israel is genociding the Palestinians one neighborhood at the time, one hospital at the time, one school at the time, one refugee camp at the time, one ‘safe zone’ at the time. With US and European… https://t.co/bHmrFbySYi
— Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) August 10, 2024
“Gaza: In the largest and most shameful concentration camp of the 21st century, Israel is genociding the Palestinians one neighborhood at the time, one hospital at the time, one school at the time, one refugee camp at the time, one ‘safe zone’ at the time,” the UN official wrote. “With US and European weapons. And amid the indifference of all “civilised nations”. May the Palestinians forgive us for our collective inability to protect them, honoring the most basic meaning of intl law.”
Her comments followed an IAF airstrike on a Hamas military HQ in a Gazan school. The IDF estimated some 20 terrorists were killed, while Palestinian reports claimed over 100 Palestinians were killed.
Israel’s Army Radio noted that only rooms housing terrorists in the men’s section of the school were hit by small and precise weaponry.
The Commissioner General of the United Nations, Philippe Lazzarini, mirrored similar sentiments, writing on the same platform “Another day of horror in #Gaza Another school hit with reports of dozens of Palestinian killed among them women, children and older people. Schools, UN facilities and civilian infrastructure are #NOTaTarget
“Parties to the conflict must not use schools & other civilian facilities for military or fighting purposes.
“Parties to the conflict must protect civilians and civilian infrastructure at all times.
“It’s time for these horrors unfolding under our watch to end. We cannot let the unbearable become a new norm. The more recurrent, the more we lose our collective humanity. #CeasefireNOW”
Another day of horror in #Gaza Another school hit with reports of dozens of Palestinian killed among them women, children and older people. Schools, UN facilities and civilian infrastructure are #NOTaTarget Parties to the conflict must not use schools & other civilian…
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) August 10, 2024
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell also commented on X.
“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,” he said. He then called for a ceasefire and said he is dismayed by the “overall death toll.”
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 massacresWe are dismayed by the terrible overall death toll. 1/2
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) August 10, 2024
International condemnations of the strike
Iraq’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement where they “condemn[ed] and denounce[d] the barbaric Israeli attack that targeted Al-Tabi’in School in Al-Daraj neighborhood, east of Gaza.”Iraq’s Foreign Ministry’s statement was also reiterated by the prime minister of the country, who added “We condemn the massacre carried out by the occupation that targeted Palestinian worshipers in the Tabeen School in Gaza.”
Lebanon’s Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ministry condemned in the “strongest terms the targeting by the Israeli occupation forces of the (Al-Tabi’een) school, which houses unarmed displaced Palestinians east of Gaza City, with three missiles that directly targeted the school’s prayer hall, killing more than a hundred Palestinian citizens and wounding dozens,” according to Lebanese media source An-Nahar.
The ministry further claimed “the systematic random shelling by the Israeli occupation army and the killing of children and civilians is clear evidence of the Israeli government’s disregard for the provisions of international law and international humanitarian law.”
The ministry concluded the statement by demanding the world push Israel to accept a two state solution – a solution repeatedly rejected by Palestinian leadership throughout the extended history of the conflict.
A spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, urged Israel’s ally Washington to put an end to the “blind support that leads to the killing of thousands of innocent civilians, including children, women, and the elderly.”
Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia condemned the strike, which came as mediators were pushing to resume ceasefire talks. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said the strike should serve as a turning point in their efforts.
Egypt said that the killing of Gaza civilians showed Israel had no intention to end the war. Qatar’s foreign ministry described the strike as a “horrific massacre.”
Egypt, the United States and Qatar have scheduled a new round of ceasefire negotiations for Thursday, as fears are growing of a broader conflict, involving Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah.
Sam Halpern and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.
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