Exclusive: Al-Tabin School attack ‘deliberately timed to cause maximum casualties’
Al Jazeera’s Sanad verification agency has probed the details of Israel’s Saturday morning attack on al-Tabin School, which killed about 100 people, including women and children.
The investigation determined the attack was “deliberately timed to cause maximum casualties”, with a “large number of displaced people deliberately targeted”.
To reach its findings, Sanad examined survivors’ testimonies, photos of the remnants of bombs used in the attack, images showing how the bombs penetrated the ceilings of the mosque attached to the school, and documentation of the explosion’s immediate aftermath.
Based on the evidence, Sanad said Israel’s military fired the two guided missiles used in the attack to coincide with dawn prayers. The missiles “penetrated the mosque’s roof, passed through the first floor, where the women’s chapel is located, and exploded on the ground floor, where the men’s chapel is situated”, said Sanad in its report.
Sanad challenged the Israeli military’s claims that the attack targeted Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters it said were in the men’s prayer hall at the time. It pointed out that the strikes occurred during prayer time in a mosque serving displaced civilians. It also cited photos and survivor testimonies showing that, contrary to the military’s claims, fire broke out in areas outside the floor Israel claimed to exclusively target, killing and maiming civilians.
“The evidence strongly suggests a deliberate and calculated attack aimed at causing widespread loss of life,” Sanad said.
People check the damage after an Israeli strike hit al-Tabin School, August 10
UNSC debates Gaza crisis as civilian suffering intensifies
The UN Security Council is set to meet for its 24th special session since the war in Gaza began on October 7. The urgent meeting has been prompted by the devastating attack on al-Tabin School on Saturday, escalating concerns over the civilian toll of the conflict.
The council faces the challenge of addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis as violence continues to rage in Gaza.
Al Jazeera’s Gabriel Elizondo reports from the UN headquarters in New York:
Israel added new, tougher ceasefire conditions: Report
Israel has in recent weeks requested new conditions to a Gaza ceasefire deal, making it harder to reach any agreement, reports the New York Times.
According to the Times, which cited private documents outlining Israel’s negotiating stance, Israel informed mediators of the additional terms in late July. They included suggestions that Israel maintain control of southern Gaza’s border and less openness to Palestinians returning to northern Gaza after the conflict, The Times said.
The conditions have alarmed several members of Israel’s own negotiating team who fear they will undermine the latest ceasefire push, according to the Times.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has denied Israel imposed new ceasefire conditions, saying its negotiating team only asked for “essential clarifications” that would help implement a May 27 proposal backed by the US.
Only Gaza truce can delay Iran’s Israel response: Reuters
A ceasefire deal stemming from hoped-for talks this week would hold Iran back from direct retaliation for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on its soil, three senior Iranian officials tell the agency.
One of the sources, a senior Iranian security official, reportedly said Iran, along with allies such as Hezbollah, would launch a direct attack if the Gaza talks fail or it perceives Israel is dragging out negotiations.
The sources did not say how long Iran would allow for talks to progress before responding, Reuters says.
Two senior sources close to Lebanon’s Hezbollah said Tehran would give the negotiations a chance but would not give up its intentions to retaliate. A ceasefire in Gaza would give Iran cover for a smaller “symbolic” response, one of the sources said.
Iran has promised a severe response to Haniyeh’s killing, which took place as he visited Tehran late last month and which it blamed on Israel. Israel has neither confirmed or denied its involvement.
