Charity Warned Israel of Civilian Presence at Gaza School Before Deadly Airstrike

At least 93 people were killed when the Israeli military bombed a school in Gaza City on August 10, despite warnings from a charity that civilians were sheltering there. Humanity & Inclusion, a nonprofit organization, had notified Israeli officials of its plans to visit the Tabeen school twice in the days leading up to the strike. The charity's team in Gaza was aware that civilians, including over 480 children under the age of 5, were seeking refuge at the school since April.

The Israeli military targeted a mosque in the school compound, claiming it was a Hamas command-and-control center. However, video and photos show the mosque was connected to the school building, where displaced Palestinians were sheltering. The IDF said its intelligence indicated no women and children were in the area, but the charity and local officials dispute this claim.

The strike has left many traumatized, with first responders describing the scene as "body parts everywhere" and "women and innocent children" among the victims. The Gaza Civil Defense agency believes thousands of people were seeking refuge at the facility, which had been transformed from an Islamic school for boys into a shelter.

The IDF has not responded to questions about the dozens of civilians killed in the strike, but reiterated previous statements that it had taken "numerous steps" to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians. The incident has raised concerns about the protection of civilians in conflict zones and the need for accurate intelligence to prevent such tragedies.