Israel is attempting to “destroy the education system” in Gaza, according to the Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM).
Around 93 people were killed in Israel’s latest strike on a school over the weekend, which was condemned by Western leaders, including Taoiseach Simon Harris, who described it as a “horrific moment.”
“Ireland condemns outright such awful and wholesale loss of civilian life,” he said.
The Taoiseach also criticised the lack of aid reaching Gaza, noting that only 24 out of 67 planned aid missions to northern Gaza this month have been facilitated by Israel.
An average of 80 aid trucks reached Gaza in both June and July, dropping sharply from 169 trucks in April.
School attacks
The United Nations reported that, as of last month, 477 out of 564 school buildings in Gaza had been damaged or hit by rockets.
IAWM Secretary Jim Roach claimed that attacks on schools are a deliberate tactic by Israel.
“This is either the eighth or tenth school targeted by Israel in as many days, so the whole education system has been systematically destroyed,” he told Newstalk Breakfast.
“These people were having their morning prayer in the courtyard when an airstrike dismembered them, killing up to 100; it’s unclear.”
“This was yet another slaughter by the Israeli military. They don’t need excuses to kill Palestinian civilians; they do it all the time.”
'Annihilate'
Mr Roach also claimed that Israel aims to “annihilate” all Palestinians.
“If you listen to statements made by key figures in the Israeli government and key commentators, they’ve made it very clear that everyone in Gaza is guilty and they will annihilate them,” he said.
People inspect the rubble at a school after being hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. Image: Associated Press / Alamy Stock PhotoIreland-Israel Alliance spokesperson Daniel Epstein-O'Dowd responded by stating that Hamas uses schools for their activities.
“Hamas has deliberately embedded itself within civilian infrastructure, necessitating military intervention in these settings,” he said.
“When you look at the aerial photographs of the Israeli strike, the vast majority of the compound was left undamaged.”
“There was a very small, targeted strike within a segment of that compound.”
Gaza peace talks
The spokesperson added that Hamas has the option of peace if it so wishes.
“Israeli military action has been necessary to remove Hamas, weaken the organization, and try to reclaim some hostages,” he said.
“Because we have seen Hamas string along peace talks; at one point, they accepted their own offer within the peace talks.”
“They’re not serious in these negotiations.”
Almost 40,000 people have now been killed in Gaza since October 7th.
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