US calls on Israel to be fully transparent about Gaza school airstrikes On Thursday, Israel launched an airstrike on the UN-run school. Many refugees took refuge in the school.
So far 40 people have been killed in the attack. However, UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said at least 35 people were killed in the attack.
Two missiles were fired at classrooms on the top floor of the school, which operates as a refugee camp in Nuseirat.
The Israeli military said the attack specifically targeted a Hamas “secret hideout” at the school. However, the official media office controlled by Hamas in Gaza denied this allegation.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Israel must publicly identify Hamas members killed in the attack. Israel occasionally identifies Hamas members killed in airstrikes. But this is the first time that the US has strongly asked the country to do so.
Miller also said the Israeli government said it would release more information about the attack. The identity of those killed in the attack will also be revealed. He said, “We hope Israel will maintain full transparency.” The information will be released to the public.
Yesterday evening Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari released the names of nine Hamas members killed in the attack. He also said that the names of some others will be announced after verifying the information.
The attack comes a week after an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza town of Rafah killed 45 people. Miller also said he heard reports that 14 children were killed in the attack. If that is true then they were not terrorists.
At least 36,470 people have been killed in Israel’s eight-month offensive in Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry.
