Germany demands swift investigation over Israeli airstrike on school in Gaza that killed at least 25 civilians

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Germany has demanded a swift investigation of Tuesday’s Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza that killed at least 25 displaced civilians.

“It is unacceptable that people are being killed while seeking protection in schools. Civilians, especially children, must not be caught in the crossfire,” the German Foreign Ministry said on X on Wednesday.

Calling for an end to the repeated Israeli attacks on schools, the ministry demanded a swift investigation of the deadly Israeli airstrike.

During the war on Gaza, lacking any other haven, many Palestinian civilians have sought safe refuge in schools.

Separately, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), said on X that over the last four days, Israel attacked four schools in Gaza.

“Since the war began, two-thirds of UNRWA schools in Gaza have been hit, some were bombed out, many severely damaged,” he said.

“The blatant disregard of international humanitarian law cannot become the new normal,” he stressed, repeating his call for a cease-fire.

- 'Heinous massacre'

During its offensive on Gaza, now into its ninth month, Israel has repeatedly hit civilian facilities such as schools, hospitals, and places of worship. Under the rules of war, such facilities are off limits to attacks, which could be a war crime.

At least 25 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike Tuesday on a school housing displaced people in the southern Gaza Strip, according to medics.

The Israeli army committed the massacre at Al-Awda School in the town of Abasan, east of Khan Younis, the Gaza Health Ministry said in a statement.

More than 53 were injured, with some in serious and critical condition, the statement added.

The Israeli army “committed a heinous massacre against displaced citizens by targeting the gate of a school sheltering displaced people in Abasan,” the ministry said earlier.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society meanwhile reported casualties from an Israeli bombardment of the Abu Hameed roundabout in central Khan Younis.

Last week, the Israeli army issued evacuation orders for Palestinian residents of several areas in eastern Khan Younis.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war last October, the Israeli army has hit several centers for displaced Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, killing dozens.

Israel, flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian group Hamas.

More than 38,000 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 88,000 others injured, according to local health authorities.

Nine months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.