After news agency AFP and stock photo agency Getty Images publish photos showing evidence of vandalism left behind in a school in the Gaza Strip which was used by IDF soldiers, the Israeli military responds by saying that while it “cannot determine if the photos are authentic,” the vandalism should be strongly condemned if they are.
“If soldiers were behind this serious incident, the IDF strongly condemns it. Vandalistic acts contradict the moral code of the Israel Defense Forces,” the military tells The Times of Israel.
The photos, which are said to have been taken by photographer Marco Longari in the Beit Hanoun High School for Girls after it was vacated by IDF soldiers who had used it as a base during Operation Protective Edge, show racist and anti-Hamas messages, as well as destruction and neglect.
Although the IDF says it cannot confirm its soldiers left the school in that condition, detailed military instructions in Hebrew, intricate chalk drawings of the insignia of various army units, and Stars of David rendered in chalk can be seen on the classroom boards alongside the hateful messages.
The messages, written in two languages, include “Fuck all the Arabs” (in English), “We will fuck you” (in Hebrew), “Fuck Hamas” (in English), “Revenge!” (in Hebrew), “No Hamas=Peace” (in English), and “You will be fucked here if you come again. Don’t forget it’s time for you to die” (in English).
A defaced portrait of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is also found in one of the classrooms.
Leftover food seen in a classroom where a military crest and some graffiti in Hebrew are seen on a blackboard after Israeli soldiers withdrew from the Beit Hanoun High school for girls, which was reportedly used as an advanced base during Israel’s military offensive against the Hamas-held Gaza Strip, on August 5, 2014. (photo credit: Marco Longari/AFP)Profanities are seen written on blackboard after Israeli soldiers withdrew from the Beit Hanoun High School for Girls, which was reportedly used as an advanced base during Israel’s military offensive against the Hamas-held Gaza Strip, on August 5, 2014. (photo credit: Marco Longari/AFP)A Palestinian boy walks past writing on a wall allegedly left behind by Israeli soldiers who used the Beit Hanoun High School for Girls as an advanced base during its military offensive against the Hamas-held Gaza Strip, on August 5, 2014. (photo credit: Marco Longari/AFP)Some military instructions in Hebrew and a map of a school are seen on a blackboard after Israeli soldiers withdrew from the Beit Hanoun High School for Girls Tuesday, on August 5, 2014. (photo credit: Marco Longari/AFP)A defaced portrait of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is held by a man in a classroom after Israeli soldiers withdrew from the Beit Hanoun High School for Girls, which was reportedly used as an advanced base during Israel’s military offensive against Hamas, on August 5, 2014 (Photo credit: Marco Longari/AFP)A Palestinian man stands near a blackboard scribbled with a Star of David, some military instructions in Hebrew and a map of a school after Israeli soldiers withdrew from the Beit Hanoun High School for Girls, Tuesday, August 5, 2014. (photo credit: Marco Longari/AFP)A Palestinian man walks past writing on a wall allegedly left behind by Israeli soldiers who used the Beit Hanoun High School for Girls as an advanced base during its military offensive against the Hamas-held Gaza Strip, on August 5, 2014. (photo credit: Marco Longari/AFP)
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
