A devastating missile strike on a school in Gaza’s Al-Daraj neighborhood has left over 100 people dead, sparking outrage and condemnation from the global community. The school, Al-Taba’een, had been sheltering displaced Palestinians fleeing Israel’s ongoing offensive. Early reports indicate that many of the victims were children, killed during dawn prayers when Israeli missiles struck the facility. This tragedy has intensified scrutiny on the role of the United States, whose financial, military, and political support for Israel is seen by many as a key enabler of the ongoing violence.
Nabih Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for the Palestinian Presidency, condemned the attack and explicitly held the U.S. government responsible for what he termed a “massacre.” He stated, “The Palestinian Authority holds the U.S. government responsible for the massacre due to its financial, military, and political support for Israel.” His comments underscore a growing frustration among Palestinians and the international community, who see the U.S. as complicit in the bloodshed due to its unwavering support for Israeli military actions.
The attack on Al-Taba’een school occurred early in the morning, as displaced Palestinians sought refuge from the relentless bombing campaign that has gripped Gaza for months. According to Gaza’s Media Office, the strike occurred while many of the displaced were performing Fajr (dawn) prayers. The sudden onslaught left little time for anyone to escape, resulting in the deaths of at least 100 people, many of whom were children. On-the-ground reports and video evidence depict a scene of unimaginable horror, with bodies torn apart by the powerful explosion.
Survivors and eyewitnesses recount scenes of chaos and despair, as the school’s makeshift shelter became a death trap. “The victims were blown to pieces,” one eyewitness reported, describing the aftermath as bodies were reduced to unrecognizable remains. This atrocity is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of Israeli strikes targeting civilian infrastructure in Gaza, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis.
The U.S. has long been Israel’s staunchest ally, providing billions in military aid annually. Just hours before the bombing of Al-Taba’een school, the U.S. State Department announced the release of $3.5 billion in military aid to Israel, along with new weapons transfers intended to replenish the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stockpiles. Among the weapons provided are MK-84 munitions, each weighing 2,000 pounds, similar to the bombs dropped on the Gaza school.
This direct link between U.S. military support and Israeli military actions has drawn sharp criticism from international observers. Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on Palestine, stated, “U.S. funding of Israeli genocide is ballooning as the Israeli army uses ever more lethal bombs. The ones used yesterday in the Al-Taba’een School massacre sliced bodies to the point of making them unrecognizable. They are now identified by weight: 70kg bag = 1 adult. Revolting.” Such statements highlight the gruesome reality of the violence enabled by U.S. support.
Despite the widespread condemnation, U.S. political leaders have been largely silent on the issue, or when they do speak, their responses are measured. Vice President Kamala Harris, while on a campaign stop in Phoenix, Arizona, stated, “Yet again, far too many civilians have been killed,” but stopped short of directly addressing the U.S.’s role in enabling these attacks.
Under international humanitarian law, Israel, as the occupying power in Gaza, is obligated to protect civilians and ensure their basic needs are met, including safe shelter. The bombing of Al-Taba’een school, which was clearly marked as a civilian shelter, represents a blatant violation of these principles. According to the UN human rights office, this attack is “at least the 21st strike on a school, each serving as a shelter, that the UN has recorded since July 4th.” These strikes have collectively resulted in at least 274 fatalities, including many women and children.
The Israeli military’s justification for the attack, that militants were using the school as a base, does not absolve it of responsibility under international law. The principle of proportionality requires that military actions avoid excessive harm to civilians, and the principle of distinction mandates that combatants be clearly distinguished from non-combatants. By failing to adhere to these principles, Israel is committing acts that many international legal experts consider war crimes.
The U.S.-Israel relationship is built on decades of military cooperation and political support, which has enabled Israel to carry out actions that have led to significant civilian casualties in Gaza. This strategic alliance has long been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy, but it has also made the U.S. complicit in the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Critics argue that the U.S. must reevaluate its support for Israel, particularly in light of the ongoing violence and disregard for international law.
There is a growing call for the U.S. to condition its military aid to Israel on adherence to human rights standards and international law. Many argue that by continuing to provide unconditional support, the U.S. is not only undermining its own moral authority but also perpetuating a cycle of violence that has devastating consequences for civilians in Gaza.
As Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees, stated, “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.”
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