Kamala Harris states that the number of civilian deaths in Gaza is 'excessive.

 Kamala Harris states that the number of civilian deaths in Gaza is 'excessive.'

U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris condemned the civilian casualties resulting from an Israeli airstrike on a school building in Gaza on Saturday. According to a hospital director speaking to the BBC, over 70 people were killed in the building, which was sheltering displaced Palestinians. Harris expressed that "far too many" civilians had lost their lives "once again," and reiterated calls for a hostage deal and a ceasefire, aligning with earlier statements from the White House. An Israeli military spokesperson claimed that the al-Taba’een school was being used as an active military facility by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, a claim that Hamas denies.

At a campaign event in Phoenix, Arizona, Ms. Harris stated that while Israel has the right to "go after Hamas," it also bears an "important responsibility" to avoid civilian casualties. 

The airstrike on Saturday has drawn criticism from both Western and regional powers, with Egypt asserting that it indicates Israel has no intention of pursuing a ceasefire or ending the Gaza conflict. 

Fadl Naeem, the head of al-Ahli Hospital, where many of the casualties were taken, reported that around 70 victims were identified shortly after the strike, though many others were so badly disfigured that identification was challenging.

Israel's military claimed it "precisely struck Hamas terrorists" who were operating from a command and control center within the al-Taba'een school. A statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli Security Agency declared that "at least 19 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists" were "eliminated" in the operation.

IDF spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari noted that "various intelligence indications" suggest there is a "high probability" that Ashraf Juda, the commander of Islamic Jihad’s Central Camps Brigade, was present at the school during the strike. However, it remains unclear whether the commander was killed in the attack.

The BBC has stated that it cannot independently verify the casualty figures provided by either side.

The Israeli spokesman mentioned that the casualty numbers reported by Hamas officials "do not align with the information held by the IDF, the precise munitions used, and the accuracy of the strike."

Hamas condemned the attack, calling it a "horrific crime and a dangerous escalation" in what it describes as Israel's "war of extermination against the Palestinian people."

Sean Savett, a spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council, acknowledged that Hamas has been using schools "as locations to gather and operate out of," but emphasized that the U.S. has consistently urged Israel to take measures to minimize civilian harm.

Israel has launched several attacks on such shelters in Gaza over the past few weeks. According to the United Nations, by 6 July, 477 out of 564 school buildings in Gaza had been directly hit or damaged, with more than a dozen targeted recently. The Al-Taba’een school, which housed over 1,000 people, had recently taken in dozens of displaced individuals from Beit Hanoun after the Israeli army ordered them to evacuate. The building, which also served as a mosque, was struck by an Israeli attack during dawn prayers, according to witnesses.

Jaafar Taha, a student living near the school, described the aftermath to the BBC, saying the sound of the bombing was immediately followed by screams and chaos. "They were screaming, 'Save us, save us,'" he recounted. "The scene was horrific, with body parts everywhere and blood covering the walls."

Salim Oweis, a spokesperson for UNICEF, called the attack "really outrageous." He explained to the BBC, "These schools are crowded with civilians—children, mothers, and families—seeking refuge in any available space, whether it's a school, mosque, or even hospital yards."

This strike has again highlighted a contentious aspect of the Gaza conflict. Israel argues that Hamas is using civilian infrastructure for military operations, which it says justifies targeting hospitals and schools—locations that are protected under international law. Hamas has consistently denied these allegations.

Hamas-led militants killed approximately 1,200 people in an attack on Israel on October 7, also taking 251 individuals' hostage back to Gaza. This assault sparked a large-scale Israeli military response against Gaza, leading to the ongoing conflict. According to the Gaza health ministry, which is operated by Hamas, over 39,790 Palestinians have lost their lives in the Israeli campaign. Additional reporting was provided by Rushdi Abualouf, a correspondent based in Istanbul, Turkey.