Following an attack by Hamas on the Israeli community of Sderot, an Israeli official said that the government cannot confirm reports that babies were beheaded in the assault. Reports of babies being beheaded have been circulating on social media since the attack, but the official stated that these reports have not been independently verified.
The official did confirm that three Israelis were wounded in the attack, and that the Israeli Defense Forces responded with airstrikes on a number of Hamas targets. The official also revealed that the attack sent several rockets onto an Israeli kindergarten, but did not offer more information about the attack.
The reports of babies being beheaded immediately drew criticism from both sides, with some suggesting it was a desperate attempt by Hamas to gain sympathy from the international community. Others, however, were quick to point out that if true, the attack was a violation of international law and the Geneva Convention, which prohibit attacking civilians.
Despite the gravity of the situation, the official said that the government cannot confirm these reports until more information can be obtained. The official did point out however, that the attack was just another example of Hamas’s prevailing tactics of violence and terror.
The official also noted that the international community must come together to demand an immediate end to the violence that has plagued the region. It remains to be seen what steps will be taken by world leaders to ensure the safety of the innocent people in this conflict.
