Further condemnations of Israeli massacre in Gaza school pour in
9 Min Read
Several countries and international bodies strongly denounce the Israeli massacre in the Al-Tabieen school in Gaza City, which left at least 93 Palestinians killed.
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Shrouded bodies are laid down at the al-Maamadani hospital, following an Israeli strike that killed more than 90 people at a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza City on August 10, 2024. (AFP)
More condemnations from international sides poured in following the recent Israeli massacre in the Al-Tabieen School and mosque in Gaza City, which killed at least 93 Palestinians, including 17 women and children, according to Gaza's Civil Defense.
The Palestinian Presidency said that "the US administration bears responsibility due to the military, financial, and political support of the occupants [Israel]."
"The US administration... must end the blind support, which has left thousands of children, women and elderly people dead," spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh stressed in a statement.
Iran's new President Masoud Pezeshkian also condemned the deadly strike, saying that government and institutions "that know no limit in supporting Israel are complicit in its crimes."
Pezeshkian said that "Israel" continues its crimes in Gaza backed by Western states that claim to advocate for human rights.
He said while the Western states claim to be calling for talks to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, they see no limit to their support for the brutal Israeli regime.
"In accordance with human rights and Islamic culture and teachings, they (Western governments) are definitely accomplices in all these tragic events that the Zionist regime commits with their double-standards they have adopted," he indicated.
Qatar, acting as a mediator in the ceasefire and prisoner exchange negotiations between "Israel" and the Palestinian Resistance, called for an immediate investigation following the latest Israeli airstrike on the School sheltering displaced Palestinians on Saturday.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry reiterated its demand "for an urgent international investigation, including the dispatch of independent UN investigators, to ascertain the facts regarding the Israeli occupation forces' continued targeting of schools and shelters for displaced persons."
New scenes document the scale of the massacre committed by the Israeli occupation against displaced people at Al-Tabieen school in the al-Daraj neighborhood, central #Gaza City.#GazaGenocide #Palestine https://t.co/ulWZAGKij7
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) August 10, 2024
The Saudi Foreign Ministry also condemned the Israeli occupation forces' attack on the Al-Tabieen School, stressing the "urgent need to halt the massacres in the Gaza Strip" and criticizing "the international community's inaction in holding Israel accountable for its crimes."
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also described the Israeli bombing of the school as "open aggression".
"We once again reiterate our demand that the Israeli leadership and security forces be brought to justice for the genocide of Palestinians and war crimes committed in Palestine," he stated.
Similarly, Iraq condemned the Israeli attack, saying, "These ongoing assaults on civilians constitute a blatant violation of international norms and conventions."
"They also demonstrate Israel's disregard for global efforts aimed at achieving a cease-fire in Gaza," the Iraqi Foreign Ministry added in a statement.
Baghdad called on the international community, particularly the Islamic world, to "take a firm stance to halt the Israeli aggression against the Palestinians."
Moreover, the Russian Foreign Ministry urged "Israel" to halt its assaults on civilians in Gaza.
Spokesperson Maria Zakharova expressed deep shock over the deadly Israeli airstrike on the Al-Tabieen School in Gaza City earlier this morning.
She indicated that such tragedies severely undermine international efforts aimed at de-escalating the war and achieving an urgent ceasefire and prisoner exchange.
The diplomat also expressed regret that these attacks on Gaza, which result in civilian casualties, seem to be systematic.
"We believe there is no and can be no justification for such actions," Zakharova added.
Turkey also denounced the Israeli airstrike as a "new crime against humanity."
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said that "Israel has committed a new crime against humanity by massacring more than a hundred civilians who had taken refuge in a school."
It pointed out that "this attack shows once again that the Netanyahu government wants to sabotage permanent ceasefire negotiations."
Ankara underlined that "the international actors who do not take measures to stop Israel are making themselves complicit in these crimes."
Additionally, UK Foreign Minister David Lammy stated that his country was "appalled" by the Israeli airstrike and called for an immediate ceasefire.
"Appalled by the Israeli Military strike on al-Tabeen school and the tragic loss of life," he wrote on X.
Appalled by the Israeli Military strike on al-Tabeen school and the tragic loss of life.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) August 10, 2024
Hamas must stop endangering civilians. Israel must comply with International Humanitarian Law.
We need an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians, free all hostages, and end restrictions…
"We need an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians, free all hostages, and end restrictions on aid," Lammy added.
The French Foreign Ministry also said it condemns "in the firmest of terms" the Israeli airstrikes on the Al-Tabieen school.
"For several weeks, school buildings have been repeatedly targeted, with an intolerable number of civilian victims," it said.
"Israel must respect international humanitarian law," it added.
Cuba followed suit, with its Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez saying that Havana strongly condemns "Israel's new crime against humanity in Gaza, following its attack on a school that served as a shelter for hundreds of civilians."
Condenamos de manera enérgica nuevo crimen de lesa humanidad de Israel en Gaza, tras ataque a una escuela que servía como refugio a cientos de civiles.
— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) August 10, 2024
Isarel muestra una vez más total irrespeto por Derecho Internacional Humanitario.
Reiteramos reclamo a poner fin al genocidio. pic.twitter.com/Q0mvYxQc0W
"Israel once again shows total disrespect for international humanitarian law," he said, reiterating Cuba's demand "to end the genocide."
Similarly, French leftist leader Jean-Luc Melenchon said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Netanyahu’s genocidal barbarity is not taking a break."
He affirmed that "last night’s carnage in Gaza will remain a symbol of the heinous crime that the powers that be encouraged by allowing to happen."
La barbarie génocidaire de Netanyahu ne fait pas de pause. Le carnage d'hier soir à Gaza restera le symbole du crime abominable que les puissances ont encouragé en laissant faire. Les dirigeants comme Macron, Scholz, Biden, leurs partis et les médias qui les soutiennent porteront…
— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) August 10, 2024
The Arab Parliament also strongly condemned the recent Israeli massacre, labeling the attack as a terrorist and inhumane act.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said the latest Israeli crime is a continuation of the brutal massacres and genocide committed by the occupation forces in the Gaza Strip for more than ten months, in blatant violation of international law, the orders of the International Court of Justice, and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The organization held the occupation forces fully responsible for these ongoing crimes, reiterating its call to hold "Israel", the occupying power, accountable for all war crimes and crimes against humanity it has committed and is committing in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including the occupied city of al-Quds.
Moreover, the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) underscored that "the horror that civilians in Gaza are enduring must end."
"I’m speechless. How many more women and children will lose their lives before a ceasefire?," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on X.
I’m speechless. How many more women and children will lose their lives before a ceasefire?
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) August 10, 2024
The horror that civilians in #Gaza are enduring must end.https://t.co/tvSWMVMtZT
Similarly, Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), condemned the recent Israeli bombing.
"Another day of horror in Gaza... Another school hit with reports of dozens of Palestinian killed among them women, children and older people," he posted on X.
Another day of horror in #Gaza
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) August 10, 2024
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…
Lazzarini stressed that "parties to the conflict must protect civilians and civilian infrastructure at all times," adding that "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."
UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, stated today, "Every day civilians continue to bear the brunt of this conflict amidst horror, displacement and endless suffering."
“The cost in lives of this war is evident with every passing day as we have witnessed yet another devastating strike on a school sheltering thousands of displaced Palestinians, with dozens of fatalities,” he added in a press statement.
He urged the need to “prioritize the protection of civilians and conclude a deal for a ceasefire,” while reiterating that “the United Nations is committed to supporting all efforts towards this goal.”
“An end to this nightmare is long overdue,” he concluded.
On his part, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said he was "horrified by images from a sheltering school in Gaza hit by an Israeli strike, with reportedly dozens of Palestinian victims."
Horrified by images from a sheltering school in Gaza hit by an Israeli strike, w/ reportedly dozens of Palestinian victims.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) August 10, 2024
At least 10 schools were targeted in the last weeks. There’s no justification for these massacres
We are dismayed by the terrible overall death toll. 1/2
"At least 10 schools were targeted in the last weeks. There's no justification for these massacres," he wrote on X.
Read more: Arab, International condemnations of Israeli attack on school in Gaza
Hezbollah strongly condemns 'horrific massacre'
In the same vein, Hezbollah strongly condemned the "horrific massacre" committed by the Israeli occupation government at the Al-Tabieen School in the al-Daraj neighborhood, central Gaza City.
In a statement, the Lebanese Resistance group affirmed that the actions of the Israeli occupation government confirm its commitment to the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people and that its true intent is to continue killing and perpetrating massacres.
It emphasized that the perpetration of this massacre by the Israeli occupation reveals that discussions about a ceasefire and setting new dates for negotiations are "nothing more than lies and deceit," which will not fool the Palestinian people, their Resistance factions, or their supporting fronts.
Hezbollah stressed that the Resistance in Gaza and its supporting fronts are increasingly convinced of their determination to resist and to work with all their might to halt the slaughter and prevent the enemy from achieving its declared and hidden goals.
The Lebanese group also called on all the free people of the world to condemn this atrocity, intensify movements and protests against the murderous occupation government, and launch a renewed, widespread campaign of solidarity with the children, women, and men of Palestine, who have been enduring a brutal massacre for over 10 months.
Hezbollah concluded its statement by extending its deepest condolences and sympathy to the steadfast, oppressed, and brave Palestinian people, wishing a swift recovery to the injured.
On its part, the Nujaba Movement of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq condemned the "heinous crime" as a new violation and blatant disregard for all international norms and human values.
The movement said the Israeli crimes committed against civilians in Gaza and other Palestinian territories represent a "dangerous precedent," as they receive the backing of the decaying West, led by the United States, which hypocritically claims to champion democracy and human rights while simultaneously providing the Israeli occupation entity with lethal weapons, ammunition, and a green light to kill innocents in cold blood.
Read more: After school strike, UN rapporteur accuses 'Israel' of genocide
