The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) is horrified by the recent Israeli airstrike on a Gaza City school, which claimed over 100 lives, including many children. The al-Taba’een school attack is part of a disturbing pattern of violence targeting schools, leading to a devastating number of civilian casualties. Latest figures show 39,897 Palestinians have been killed and 92,152 wounded since Israel launched its war on the Gaza Strip.
The ICJ has declared Israel’s ongoing presence in the occupied Palestinian territory as unlawful, calling for its immediate cessation and the prompt removal of existing settlements.
UNRWA has described this as “another day of horror in Gaza,” with the attack occurring during dawn prayers when families, including children, were seeking refuge.
The UK Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council Meeting yesterday said: The UK is appalled by the Israeli military strike on al-Tabeen school where Palestinian civilians were sheltering. Sadly, this was not the only Israeli strike on schools, turned-shelters, we have seen. There were 17 such attacks in July alone. Palestinians have nowhere safe to turn.”
Zara Mohammed, Secretary General of the MCB, stated, “The deliberate targeting of schools is a gross violation of international humanitarian law.
Gaza is in the midst of a dire humanitarian crisis, with nearly the entire population of 2.3 million people displaced due to a ten-month military onslaught.
We welcome the Foreign Secretary’s calls for Israel to abide by humanitarian law, and further call for an immediate halt to all arms sales to Israel. The longer we delay, the more lives will be lost, only extending the suffering and devastation.
We join the international community in demanding that Israel must respect international rulings and cease these brutal attacks.”
The ICJ’s role in upholding international law must be respected, and Israel must implement the recent ruling immediately. It is crucial that every effort is made to achieve a just and lasting peace in Palestine.