France has strongly condemned the recent Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza, which resulted in multiple casualties. According to a statement from France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, this attack is part of a troubling pattern where school buildings in Gaza have been targeted, leading to a high number of civilian casualties. France has called on Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law and cease such actions.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have defended the strike, claiming that the school in central Gaza City was used by Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants for terrorist activities.
The IDF reported that the compound, including a mosque within it, was a significant site for these groups, which they say included senior commanders. The IDF's statement, issued on social media, indicated that the strike aimed to target militants responsible for attacks against Israel.
In response to the IDF’s claims, the Hamas-run government media office reported a different narrative. They stated that the Israeli airstrike had killed at least 100 Palestinians who were sheltering in the school, which had been serving as a refuge for those displaced by the ongoing conflict.
The IDF has dismissed the figures and details provided by Hamas as exaggerated, urging caution when interpreting information from Hamas sources. They emphasised that their attack was preceded by measures intended to minimise civilian harm, including the use of precision weaponry and detailed intelligence.
Additionally, the IDF reported the elimination of Samer Mahmoud al-Haj, a senior Hamas commander, in a separate strike in Lebanon. The IDF claimed that al-Haj was involved in the recruitment and training of terrorists targeting Israel and vowed to continue their operations against Hamas wherever it operates.
This recent escalation underscores the ongoing and deeply entrenched conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups, with both sides accusing each other of violating international norms and causing undue harm to civilians.
