Information provided by both parties cannot be verified at this time. Israel’s military said it had “accurately struck Hamas terrorists operating in the Hamas command center at al-Tabein school.” The school is located next to a mosque where residents of Gaza City have been seeking protection, the Israeli military said.
Before the attack, “a number of measures were taken to minimize the risk of harm to civilians, including the use of precision munitions, aerial surveillance and intelligence.” Attacks against Israeli troops and the State of Israel are planned and prepared from the point of attack.
Palestinians: Many of the dead were internally displaced
Reports of the death toll vary on the Palestinian side – from 60 to over 100 dead. The Gaza government’s Hamas-run media office said dozens of civilians, particularly internally displaced people, were among the dead.
“The Israeli attacks targeted displaced people performing Fajr (morning prayers), resulting in a rapid increase in the number of victims,” it said. The Hamas media office reported that several people were burned to death in the attack.
The Israeli military reiterated that the terrorist organization was systematically violating international law by operating from civilian shelters. Civilians are used as human shields for terrorist activities.
US: Expansion “in the interests of either party”.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken assured Israel’s Defense Minister Jove Gallant of ironclad support from the US amid concerns about a retaliatory strike by Iran and its allies against Israel for the killing of two top figures by Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah fighters. On the phone – at the same time to warn against escalating the situation.
Blinken said such a move “is not in the interests of either party.” Blinken reiterated the “urgent need” for a ceasefire in Gaza, according to a spokesman for his ministry. Iran was not explicitly mentioned in the ministry’s statement. It continued: “The minister reiterated America’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s security.”
More money from America
The State Department also revealed that Washington is providing Israel with an additional $3.5 billion to purchase American weapons and military equipment. Reported to Congress. According to a report by CNN, the funding is part of an additional $14 billion in funding for Israel approved by the US Congress in April.
A ceasefire in the Gaza war is seen as key to easing the situation in the Middle East. Blinken said in a phone call that a cease-fire in the sealed coastal zone would ensure the release of hostages, provide more humanitarian aid to affected populations and “create the conditions for broader regional stability.”
Acting as mediators in the war between Israel and the Iran-aligned Hamas, the United States, Qatar and Egypt have previously strongly urged the two sides to reach an agreement in a joint statement.
Russian ban on flights over Israel
The civil aviation authority in Moscow has banned Russian planes from flying over Israel’s airspace for the coming nights. The ban applies from 00:00 AM to 6:00 AM CEST. According to a statement from the Rosaviatsia authority in Moscow, it was implemented during the day for the first time.
The so-called NOTAM (notification to aircrew) is valid until August 16 at 11am CEST. The reason was not given, but there was an apparent connection to Iranian airstrikes on Israel. Russia is Iran’s closest ally and has been increasingly supplying the country with anti-aircraft weapons in recent days.
UNRWA: Destruction of an Entire Community
Given the high number of civilian casualties, the catastrophic humanitarian situation and the devastating destruction in Gaza, Israel has come under severe international criticism. According to Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Palestine Relief Agency (UNRWA), two out of three buildings in Gaza have now been damaged or destroyed. It is based on data from the UN Satellite Observation Programme. Every day that the war continues, the destruction of an entire society continues, Lazzarini complained in X.
The Gaza war was sparked by an unprecedented massacre by Hamas and other groups in Israel last October that killed more than 1,200 people. According to the Hamas-controlled Health Authority, 39,600 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the war began. This figure does not distinguish between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified.
