ANKARA, Nov 19 Turkish Foreign Ministry called the attack “targeted” the Israeli army at a school in Gaza, called for action to be taken.
About 200 people were killed in an Israeli strike on the Al-Fakhura school in the Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera TV channel reported earlier.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the Israeli attack on the UN-run Al-Fakhura School in Gaza City on November 18, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of innocent Palestinian children. This Israeli attack is further proof that Israel is deliberately and ruthlessly is cracking down on civilians, especially children, in the Gaza Strip,» the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry emphasizes that “the number of women and children who have died at the hands of Israel in Gaza over the past five weeks is a disgrace for humanity.”
“The international community must no longer turn a blind eye to the fact that Israel is violating the law and all humanitarian values by committing these grave crimes. Those responsible for these massacres, which have already become a black spot in the history of mankind, will definitely pay for the indescribable pain they have caused before court. An immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire must be declared in Gaza. We call on all conscientious members of the international community to take the necessary steps in this direction,» the statement said.
On October 7, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented-scale rocket attack from the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, announced by the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement. After this, the organization’s fighters entered the border areas in southern Israel, where they opened fire on both military and civilians, and also took more than 200 hostages. In Israel, according to the latest data from the authorities, about 1.2 thousand people were killed, this number includes civilians, soldiers, foreign citizens and workers, and it was also reported that more than 5 thousand were injured.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Within a few days, the Israeli military took control of all populated areas near the border with Gaza and began carrying out air strikes on targets, including civilians, in the strip. Israel also announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip: the supply of water, food, electricity, medicine, and fuel was stopped.
The death toll in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip exceeded 12.3 thousand people, more than 29 thousand people were injured. The Russian Embassy reported that during the escalation of the conflict, 20 Russians were killed, two were taken hostage, and seven were listed as missing.
According to various sources, about 150 Israelis may be held captive by Hamas. The movement itself stated that there are about 200-250 prisoners in the Gaza Strip.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the parties to stop hostilities. According to the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the settlement of the Middle East crisis is possible only on the basis of a “two-state” formula approved by the UN Security Council, which provides for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict, related to the territorial interests of the parties, has been a source of tension and clashes in the region for many decades. A UN decision with the active role of the USSR in 1947 determined the creation of two states — Israel and Palestine, but only the Israeli one was created.