In a shocking revelation, Al Jazeera's Sanad verification agency has concluded that Israel's attack on Gaza City's al-Tabin School, resulting in over 100 casualties including women and children, was a deliberate act aimed at causing maximum harm. The investigation uncovered that the timing of the attack coincided with dawn prayers, with a large number of displaced individuals deliberately targeted.

Sanad conducted a thorough examination of survivors' testimonies, images of bomb remnants, documentation of bomb penetration through ceilings, and evidence from the immediate aftermath of the explosion. The findings revealed that two guided missiles were used in the attack, both confirmed to be of the American GBU-39 SDB type, manufactured by Boeing and exported to the Israeli army.

According to Sanad's report, the missiles penetrated the roof of a mosque attached to the school, passed through the first floor where the women's chapel is located, and exploded on the ground floor where men's chapel is situated. The agency emphasized that the choice of location and time of impact were not random, with one missile landing at the beginning of the chapel area during prayer time and the other in the sleeping area near ablutions where displaced individuals were preparing for prayer.

Israeli forces have been repeatedly accused of targeting schools used as shelters in Gaza, alleging that Hamas, the governing Palestinian group, uses these facilities to hide fighters and manufacture weapons. This month alone, at least five such attacks have been reported.

Sanad challenged Israel's claims that the al-Tabin School attack targeted Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters in the men's prayer hall. The agency highlighted that the attacks occurred during prayer time in a mosque serving displaced civilians. Furthermore, photos and survivor testimonies contradict Israel's assertion that the targeted area was exclusively occupied by fighters, as fire broke out in areas outside the floor Israel claimed to have targeted, resulting in civilian casualties.

The findings suggest a deliberate and calculated attack aimed at causing widespread loss of life. The incident has sparked renewed calls for the United States to reconsider its staunch support for Israel, including weapons transfers that rights advocates claim are fueling atrocities in the Palestinian enclave. The school massacre also raises concerns about the escalation of the Gaza war into a regional conflict following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. This incident occurred just hours after another Israeli strike in Beirut killed a senior Hezbollah commander. Iran and its allies have blamed Israel for these killings and have promised retaliation.