The Russian side calls on Israel to refrain from attacks on civilian targets in Gaza and warns that tragedies such as the attack on the Al-Tabi'in school in Gaza are undermining efforts for a quick ceasefire and exchange of detainees. This is stated in a comment of the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.
The diplomat drew attention to the fact that, according to the received information, on the morning of August 10, the Israeli aviation launched a missile attack on the Al-Tabi'in school in Gaza.
"At the time of the attack, there were more than 2,000 refugees there. Palestinian sources say the attack left more than 100 people dead and dozens wounded and trapped under the rubble of a destroyed building. Among the victims are many children and women. Moscow is deeply shocked by what happened. We express our sincere condolences to the relatives of the deceased. We wish the victims a speedy recovery,”, Zakharova emphasized.
„We note with regret that such attacks in the Gaza Strip, whose victims are civilians, are systematic. We call on the Israeli side to refrain from attacks on civilian targets. We believe that there is no and cannot be an excuse for them. According to the Palestinian side, 13 centers for displaced people have been bombed in the past month alone. Tragedies like what happened today at the Al-Tabi'in school undermine international efforts aimed at de-escalating the situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone and an early cease-fire, as well as the exchange of detainees, the diplomat said.
Zakharova added that the Russian Federation confirms its principled and consistent position on the need for strict compliance with international humanitarian law.
The diplomat drew attention to the fact that “the incident is a direct consequence of the non-compliance with the decisions of the Security Council and the UN General Assembly, demanding the cessation of fighting in the Gaza Strip and the establishment of unimpeded humanitarian access to the enclave. “
"In this regard, we once again emphasize the need for the immediate implementation of these resolutions, as required by the UN Charter, which would guarantee the establishment of a long-term ceasefire, the provision of the necessary assistance to the residents of the Gaza Strip and create conditions for the transfer of efforts to settle the conflict on a political and diplomatic level”, concluded the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
On the morning of August 10, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the country's air force attacked the headquarters of the Palestinian radical movement Hamas, located at the Al-Tabi'in school. in Gaza City. According to information from the IDF, this headquarters was involved in planning and carrying out attacks against the Israeli military. Hamas said Israel was "looking for excuses" for carrying out attacks against civilian targets and called the IDF's claims a lie.
According to the Gaza Civil Defense Service, cited by Al Jazeera, at least 93 people were killed in the shelling, including 11 children and 6 women. In turn, the press office of the government of the Gaza Strip reported that more than 100 people were killed as a result of the shelling of the school. The IDF called these figures overstated.