Middle Eastern countries strongly condemned Israeli air strikes on a Gaza City school that was sheltering displaced people. Consequently, the attack killed at least 100 Palestinians, including women and children. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that the school was being used as a Hamas and Islamic Jihad military site, with militants operating there. However, they expressed doubtfulness about the casualty figures reported by Hamas.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit criticized the attack as a severe crime. He further called for international intervention to negotiate a ceasefire and a prisoner swap.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry accused Israel of deliberately targeting civilians to disrupt ceasefire efforts, indicating a lack of political will to end the conflict.
Mediators Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. urged both parties to resume peace talks on August 15 in Cairo or Doha. In addition, Qatar condemned the bombing and called for UN investigators to examine Israeli attacks on schools and shelters.
Similarly, Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry condemned the indiscriminate shelling and civilian deaths, citing clear violations of international law. Additionally, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry called the attacks a blatant breach of international law and urged the UNSC to stop Israeli aggression.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry also condemned the “barbaric” attacks, labeling them a violation of international norms. In contrast, Syria described the attacks as a “heinous massacre” and accused Israel of genocide and war crimes, urging regional resistance.
Iran, in turn, criticized the attacks as brutal and genocidal. It called for decisive actions from regional countries and the UNSC. Yemen described the air strike as a “barbaric bombing” and emphasized that achieving peace requires addressing Palestinian rights.
Currently, the Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza has reached 39,790, according to Gaza-based health authorities.
Also read: Israel Broadens Evacuations in Khan Younis as Conflict Intensifies.
