How Israeli strikes on Gaza school shelters using US weapons may breach international law

How Israeli strikes on Gaza school shelters using US weapons may breach international law

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Israeli military of “illegally and indiscriminately” using US-supplied weapons to attack schools sheltering displaced civilians in Gaza, killing at least 836 people and injuring more than 2,500 as of July 18. In a report published Thursday, titled Gaza: Israeli School Strikes Magnify Civilian Peril, HRW said these attacks violate international law protecting educational facilities unless they are used for military purposes. The group found no evidence of militants in some of the deadliest incidents, CNN reported.

Two major attacks identified as involving US weapons

HRW investigated two high-casualty strikes where US munitions were used. On July 27, 2024, Israeli forces hit the Khadija girls’ school in Deir Al-Balah, killing at least 15 people. On September 21, Al-Zeitoun school in northern Gaza was struck, killing at least 34 people. Witnesses described scenes of devastation, with one journalist saying, “Can you imagine, a building full of displaced people levelled in the blink of an eye?” HRW said it verified satellite imagery, photos, videos, and eyewitness accounts for its findings.

Israel defends strikes, citing Hamas presence

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) claimed Hamas has embedded weapons, command centres, and fighters inside or near schools, and in some cases, held hostages there. The IDF did not provide supporting evidence for these claims. HRW noted that sheltering civilians in schools does not remove their protected status under international law. The group warned that Washington’s ongoing supply of arms to Israel risks making the US “complicit” in violations of humanitarian law.

Scale of destruction and humanitarian collapse

UN data cited by HRW shows that 97% of Gaza’s schools have been damaged since Israel’s military campaign began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks. The bombardment has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents, with school shelters becoming key refuges. UNICEF-led assessments say reconstruction of homes could take until 2040, requiring international aid at levels unseen since 1948. The UN has warned that Israel’s 22-month siege has rendered Gaza “uninhabitable.”

Civilian toll continues to mount

The Gaza Ministry of Health reports at least 61,158 Palestinians killed and nearly 200 deaths from starvation, including 96 children. The loss of educational infrastructure has forced young people to abandon studies. “I lost my ambitions and dreams,” said 20-year-old university student Raghad Ezzat Hamouda, now displaced with nine relatives. “Gaza has become uninhabitable… no homes, no schools, no universities, no infrastructure – just ashes.”

Call for international action

HRW urged the US and other governments to halt arms sales to Israel, warning of the “clear risk” that these weapons will continue to be used unlawfully. “Other governments should not tolerate this horrendous slaughter of Palestinians merely seeking safety,” said Gerry Simpson, the group’s associate crisis, conflict and arms director.