HRW Accuses Israel of Illegal School Attacks in Gaza, Killing Hundreds; US Facing Complicity Allegations
The U.S.-provided munitions have reportedly been utilized by the Israeli military in a manner deemed “illegal and indiscriminate” during attacks on school shelters in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians. This allegation is made in a report titled “Gaza: Israeli School Strikes Magnify Civilian Peril,” published by Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday.
Israel’s military operations following Hamas-led attacks, which occurred on October 7, 2023, have left approximately 2.1 million people out of their homes, forcing many to flee their neighborhoods in search of civilian infrastructure.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) often claim that their strikes on school facilities in Gaza target embedded Hamas fighters. However, according to HRW’s investigation, only seven instances were found where the military published details of alleged militants killed. Two significant attacks, which resulted in nearly 50 fatalities, lacked any evidence of a military target.
Such attacks would violate international law since schools and other educational facilities are considered civilian objects and are protected from attack. They lose this protection only when used for military purposes or if occupied by military forces. The use of schools to house civilians does not alter their legal status.
HRW has called upon the U.S. and other governments to halt arms sales to Israel, citing the “clear risk” that weapons might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law. HRW asserts that the U.S.’s arms supply to Israel makes it complicit in their lawful use.
Gerry Simpson, associate crisis, conflict, and arms director at HRW, said, “Israeli strikes on schools sheltering displaced families provide a window into the widespread carnage that Israeli forces have carried out in Gaza.” Simpson further stated, “Other governments should not tolerate this horrendous slaughter of Palestinians merely seeking safety.”
The IDF responded by stating that it “operates exclusively on the grounds of military necessity and in strict accordance with international law.” The IDF also accused Hamas of systematically embedding its military assets, including weapons and ammunition, in densely populated civilian areas and exploiting civilian infrastructure for terror purposes.
The Israeli military is reported to have carried out attacks on school shelters in Gaza that resulted in the deaths of at least 836 Palestinians and injuries to another 2,527 people as of July 18, according to HRW, citing the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
HRW investigated two such attacks where it identified the use of U.S. munitions. The agency reviewed satellite imagery, photos, and videos of the attacks and their aftermath, as well as social media and interviews with eyewitnesses.
CNN previously reported on the use of U.S. weaponry in deadly strikes and has reached out to the State Department for comment on the HRW report.
On July 27, 2024, the Israeli military launched at least three strikes on the Khadija girls’ school in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza, killing at least 15 people. On September 21, Israel struck Al-Zeitoun school, northern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 34 people.
A journalist cited in the HRW report described the scene: “Can you imagine, a building full of displaced people leveled in the blink of an eye? I saw people with serious and more minor injuries, and then saw human remains on the ground.”
The allegations echo repeated human rights warnings that Israel’s 22-month bombing and siege have rendered much of the enclave uninhabitable. Attacks on school shelters have diminished access to refuge, exacerbated reconstruction challenges, and disrupted education among a pre-war population of more than 2.2 million people – where half are under the age of 18.
At least 97% of schools in Gaza have sustained damage, according to a report by the UNICEF-led Education Cluster published in August. Rebuilding destroyed homes in Gaza could take until 2040, as per a statement made by the UN in May. The extent of destruction requires external assistance on a scale not seen since 1948, the agency added.
At least 61,158 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the Ministry of Health there. At least 193 people have starved to death, including 96 children, the ministry reported on Wednesday.
One Palestinian student told CNN that days spent going to university have been replaced by a brutal struggle for survival, repeated displacement, and severe hunger. “The war came and destroyed everything,” Raghad Ezzat Hamouda, 20, told CNN on Wednesday. “I lost my ambitions and dreams.” Gaza has become uninhabitable, she added, with no homes, no schools, no universities, no infrastructure – just ashes.