Bahr El-Baqar primary school bombing: Israeli bombers strike an Egyptian school. Forty-six children are killed.

A deeply tragic event unfolded on the morning of April 8, 1970, when the Bahr el-Baqar primary school, located in the peaceful Egyptian village of Bahr el-Baqar, south of Port Said in the eastern province of Sharqia, became the target of an aerial bombardment. This devastating attack, carried out by the Israeli Air Force (IAF), claimed the lives of 46 innocent children and left over 50 others wounded out of the 130 children attending the school that day. The single-floor school building, which comprised just three classrooms, was utterly demolished by the impact.

At approximately 9:20 am on that Wednesday, Israeli Air Force F-4 Phantom II fighter-bombers delivered a barrage of five bombs and two air-to-ground missiles directly onto the school premises. The immediate aftermath was a scene of unimaginable horror and devastation, forever scarring the community and igniting a firestorm of international condemnation and controversy.

Context of the Attack

This tragic incident did not occur in isolation but was part of a series of deep penetration strikes initiated by Israel during the War of Attrition (1967-1970), a period of intense fighting between Israel and Egypt following the Six-Day War. These strikes, collectively known as Operation Priha, aimed to exert pressure on Egypt by targeting strategic and sometimes civilian infrastructure deep within its territory. A preceding and equally grim event within Operation Priha was the bombing of the Abu Zaabal factory, where 80 civilian workers were killed. While the Israeli government promptly acknowledged the Abu Zaabal bombing as a mistake, its response to the Bahr el-Baqar tragedy would prove to be markedly different and far more contentious.

Disputed Narratives and Justifications

The motive behind the Bahr el-Baqar school bombing and its appropriate classification have been subjects of profound dispute between the involved parties and their allies. Egyptian and Arab sources have consistently and unequivocally regarded the attack as a deliberate massacre and a heinous war crime, asserting that its intention was to compel Egypt into agreeing to a ceasefire by targeting its civilian population and spreading terror. This perspective emphasizes the unconscionable nature of striking a primary school filled with children.

Conversely, Israeli and many Western sources have presented a different account, largely attributing the incident to a grave human error on the Israeli side. According to this narrative, the Israeli pilots acted under the mistaken impression that the school building was an Egyptian military installation. This claim suggests that while the outcome was catastrophic and regrettable, the targeting of children was not intentional.

At the time, the Israeli government, through its then-Defense Minister Moshe Dayan and its envoy to the United Nations, Yosef Tekoah, repeatedly defended the operation. Official Israeli sources claimed to possess reconnaissance satellite images of the school that were, in their view, consistent with military settings. Furthermore, they alleged that some students attending the school were simultaneously receiving military training, attempting to paint a picture that blurred the lines between civilian and military targets, a claim that was, and remains, vehemently rejected by Egypt and international observers.

FAQs

What was the Bahr el-Baqar primary school bombing?
It was an aerial attack by the Israeli Air Force on a primary school in the Egyptian village of Bahr el-Baqar, resulting in significant child casualties and the complete destruction of the school building.
When did the Bahr el-Baqar bombing occur?
The bombing took place on Wednesday, April 8, 1970, at approximately 9:20 am.
Where is Bahr el-Baqar located?
Bahr el-Baqar is an Egyptian village situated south of Port Said, within the eastern province of Sharqia.
What were the casualties of the attack?
Out of 130 children attending the school, 46 were killed and over 50 were wounded.
Who carried out the attack?
The attack was carried out by Israeli Air Force F-4 Phantom II fighter-bombers.
Why is there a dispute over the nature of the attack?
Egyptian and Arab sources classify it as a deliberate massacre and a war crime intended to impose a ceasefire. Israeli and Western sources, however, consider it to be a human error, as the school was allegedly mistaken for a military installation.
What was Operation Priha?
Operation Priha was a series of deep penetration strikes conducted by Israel during the War of Attrition, targeting locations deep within Egyptian territory, which also included the earlier bombing of the Abu Zaabal factory.
How did the Israeli government respond to the allegations?
Then-Defense Minister Moshe Dayan and UN envoy Yosef Tekoah repeatedly defended the operation, claiming that reconnaissance satellite images showed military settings and alleging that some students were receiving military training.