Muslim organization condemns Israeli bombings of schools in Gaza, calling them ‘barbaric’

By Khalid Mejdoup

RABAT, Morocco (AA) – A major governmental organization of Muslim countries on Sunday strongly condemned the Israeli army’s bombing of the Al-Fakhoura and Tal Al-Zaatar schools in the northern Gaza Strip, describing them "barbaric actions that have become a disgrace to humanity."

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), which operates under the auspices of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), strongly condemned the attacks on two schools, where civilians had sought refuge to avoid the intensified onslaught of Israeli military on Gaza, calling them a "heinous crime" and "barbaric actions."

On Saturday, more than 200 Palestinians were killed and injured in an Israeli bombing of the Al-Fakhoura School, which is affiliated with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, shortly before another school, Tal Al-Zaatar School, in the town of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, was targeted with another bombing.

ISESCO released the following statement: "We condemn the heinous crime committed by the Israeli occupation by targeting Al-Fakhoura and Tal Al-Zaatar schools in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in hundreds of casualties, including dead and wounded."

It added, "The continuation of this brutal behavior in the Gaza Strip, which makes no distinction whatsoever between schools, medical institutions and military facilities, demonstrates the Israeli occupation's persistence on violating all international laws and norms, and disdaining the emerging positions around the globe against these barbaric actions which have become a disgrace to humanity"

The organization stressed that "no force has ever used its military machinery with such aggression to attack children, schools, and hospitals, indicating a clear and unprecedented setback in values and behavior."

The Israeli bombing of the Al-Fakhoura and Tal Al-Zaatar schools drew widespread condemnation from Arab and Muslim states and organizations.