Israeli attack on Palestinian worshipers in Gaza school sparks outrage across Muslim world

The Muslim world on Saturday condemned Israel’s bombing of a school in Gaza sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza City.

At least 100 people were killed and several others were injured as the Israeli aircraft targeted Palestinians performing fajr (dawn) prayers at the Al-Taba'een School in the Al-Daraj neighborhood.

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and accused Tel Aviv of a “lack of genuine intent” to end the ongoing war.

The ministry said that the attack is a “blatant disregard for international and humanitarian law.”

“The persistent large-scale attacks and the high civilian casualties increase whenever efforts to negotiate a cease-fire intensify,” it added.

Egypt reaffirmed its commitment to continuing diplomatic efforts to ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza and to work toward a cease-fire agreement.

Sufyan Qudah, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, also expressed his country’s condemnation of Israel's continued “breaches of international law and humanitarian norms.”

"This targeted attack, which comes at a time when mediators are making efforts to resume negotiations for a hostage exchange deal that could lead to a permanent cease-fire, signals the Israeli government's intent to obstruct and undermine these efforts," he said.

The spokesman called for an end to Israel's “ongoing violations of international law” and urged that “those responsible for the atrocities be held accountable.”

Palestinians pray next to the bodies of Palestinians killed in an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Gaza City, August 10, 2024. PHOTO: REUTERS

Palestinians pray next to the bodies of Palestinians killed in an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Gaza City, August 10, 2024. PHOTO: REUTERS

The Saudi Foreign Ministry also condemned the Israeli occupation forces' attack on the Al-Taba'een School.

In a statement, the ministry emphasized the “urgent need to halt the massacres in the Gaza Strip,” condemning “the international community's inaction in holding Israel accountable for its crimes.”

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the Israeli bombing of the school an “open aggression.”

"We once again reiterate our demand that the Israeli leadership and security forces be brought to justice for the genocide of Palestinian and war crimes committed in Palestine," Sharif said.

Iraq also condemned the Israeli attack. “These ongoing assaults on civilians constitute a blatant violation of international norms and conventions,” an Iraqi Foreign Ministry statement said.

“They also demonstrate Israel's disregard for global efforts aimed at achieving a cease-fire in Gaza,” it added.

The ministry urged the international community, particularly the Islamic world, to “take a firm stance to halt the Israeli aggression against the Palestinians.”

With the bombing of Al-Taba'een school, the total number of schools targeted by the Israeli army in Gaza City over the past week has increased to six, according to an Anadolu tally.

Despite appeals on Thursday from mediators, including Egypt, the US, and Qatar, to stop hostilities, reach a cease-fire, and a hostage exchange agreement, Israel persists with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli onslaught against the Gaza Strip has killed nearly 39,800 people since last October following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.