In a tragic turn of events, a Gaza City school that served as a shelter for displaced Palestinians became the target of an Israeli military airstrike, resulting in the deaths of at least 93 people, according to local officials. The bombing occurred on August 10, just days after young children in the classroom were being instructed on how to protect themselves during an airstrike.

Israeli officials claimed that their precision airstrikes targeted a Hamas command-and-control center embedded in a mosque within the Tabeen school compound. However, video footage and photographs of the school suggest that the mosque was connected to the building where displaced Palestinians sought refuge.

Humanity & Inclusion, a nonprofit organization, had notified the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in writing about their plans to conduct humanitarian work at the school on August 6 and August 8, according to communications reviewed by NBC News. The organization expressed its surprise that the IDF did not recognize the school as a shelter for civilians and stressed the obligation under international law to spare civilian assets.

Israel's Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration approved the visits, and the charity coordinated them with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Although the exact purpose of the visits was not outlined, Humanity & Inclusion believed that the information provided should have indicated to the Israeli authorities that the organization intended to conduct humanitarian work at the school.

The IDF, however, reiterated its statements that it had taken numerous steps to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians. The army did not respond directly to the notifications sent by Humanity & Inclusion but acknowledged that coordinating movement requests within Gaza could be complex.

Video footage captured after the bombing depicts a scene of devastation, with bodies covered in bloodied shrouds and rubble strewn across the floor. Gaza Civil Defense responders recounted the gruesome task of gathering body parts and attempting to identify those who perished. Dr. Ahmed Radi at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City noted that the number of casualties could have been even higher, as many bodies were burned or dismembered beyond recognition.

The survivors of the bombing, like Mustafa Mahany, who had sought refuge at the Tabeen school since his home was destroyed, are left to grapple with the loss of loved ones. Mahany tragically discovered that his eldest son was among the victims, while two other children were also killed, and a fourth sustained injuries.

The IDF did not respond specifically to questions concerning the civilian casualties reported by local officials, first responders, humanitarian groups, and hospital workers. The spokesperson for the IDF stated that their intelligence indicated no presence of women and children in the targeted area, and the use of precise munitions was meant to minimize damage.

This tragic incident has raised serious concerns about the protection of civilians amidst the ongoing conflict in the region. The international community is calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the bombing and renewed efforts to avoid civilian casualties in future conflicts.