Germany’s defense of Israel’s bombing of Gaza’s al-Tabin school, which resulted in the deaths of over 100 Palestinians, has ignited controversy worldwide. Amidst condemnations from various countries, including the UK and France, Germany reiterated that “Israel has the right to defend itself” during a press conference in Berlin.

The strike on the Tabin school, used as a shelter for displaced people, targeted a Hamas “command and control center” according to the Israeli army. However, Germany’s stance clashed with the global outrage over civilian casualties, with the French foreign ministry stating that Israel must respect international humanitarian law.

Recent data from UNICEF revealed that half of schools used as shelters in Gaza have been directly hit in the last 10 months, emphasizing the devastating impact. Despite some countries’ support for Israel’s actions, the international community, including the EU and Turkey, has strongly denounced the attack and called for respecting human rights and international law.

With conflicting viewpoints on the incident, the tragic loss of innocent lives in Gaza continues to raise concerns and demands for accountability and justice.