SAO PAULO, SP (FOLHAPRESS) – Israel’s forces have made air attacks on used schools as civilian gaza shelters as part of a deliberate strategy for their goals in the Palestinian territory, according to authorities heard by the British newspaper The Guardian. According to the publication, at least six school buildings have been hit in recent weeks, which would have resulted in the deaths of more than 120 people.
The actions of the Israelis occurred after a loosening of internal controls on operations against Hamas, according to The Guardian. The new approach would have granted permission to bombing after the location of a faction member regardless of the presence of civilians on site and even if it is low patent.
The most recent attack occurred on the 26th, when four people died in a school that served as shelter in Deir Al-Balah, in downtown Gaza. Images published on social networks show the rubble of what al-aishiya school would be. The Israeli army said it had bombarded a place “used by terrorists” and that the soldiers took steps to mitigate damage to the civilian population.
Military authorities told The Guardian that the school was among the targets previously identified as strategic. Another four former educational institutions in northern Gaza would also have been marked as “places for possible attacks.” It is unclear whether these units were also functioning as shelters as they were aimed at Israel’s forces.
According to recent UN estimates mentioned by the British publication, 95% of Gaza schools have suffered some kind of damage since the beginning of the war in October 2023. About 400 educational institutions were hit directly by bombing, according to the survey.
In the most lethal attack reported on May 25, at least 54 people died while sleeping at Fahmi Al-Jawi school. Local authorities informed the BBC network that charred bodies, including children, were removed from burned classrooms. Israeli’s forces stated that the operation targeted a Hamas Command Center installed at the old school site.
Over the past two months, school buildings, hospitals and municipal structures have been classified by Israeli military authorities from “heavy centers” -which, according to the army, are used simultaneously by terrorists and civilians. Three authorities heard by The Guardian reported that, even knowing the presence of civilians, the attacks were authorized by the justification that there were Hamas members on the site, even if they were under -level.
Sought by the report, a spokesman for the Israeli Military Forces stated that operations follow criteria of “military need” and respect “international law”. He also accused Hamas of exploring schools for military purposes with the construction of tunnels and the launch of attacks against Israeli forces from these places.
