U.N. Probe Points to Israel for Latest U.N. Facility Shelling; Death Toll Over 1, 400
Ron B. Lopez | | Jul 31, 2014 02:20 AM EDT |
Palestinians collect bodies from a United Nations-run school sheltering Palestinians displaced by an Israeli ground offensive, that was hit by Israeli shelling, in Jebalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip July 30, 2014.
United Nations said it was Israel who shelled a U.N.-run refugee camp in Gaza strip that killed at least 15 people on Wednesday, calling on international community to help bring an end to the three-week long "carnage" of civilians.
The accusation was based on the initial investigation conducted by U.N. officials who visited the Jabalya refugee camp, which came under attack on Wednesday night, where its over 3, 3000 refugees were sleeping.
Like Us on Facebook
The latest violence of the Israel-Hamas war brings the death toll in Gaza at 1, 346, mostly Palestinian civilians and children. Israel has 59 fatalities, three of them were civilians.
"Our initial assessment is that, it was Israeli artillery that hit our school," United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) chief Pierre Krahenbuhl said in a statement.
Krahenbuhl condemned the latest attack and said Israel continued its deadly assaults in U.N. facilities in the Gaza strip despite its protection under international law.
He said it was the sixth time that one of U.N.-run schools has been struck by the deadly assaults following the last week's shelling of a U.N. school in Beit Hanoun that killed another 15 people, including U.N. staff, and injuring hundreds of refugees.
Krahenbuhl said Israeli army has been notified for at least 17 times regarding the U.N. facilities' precise location for Israel to avoid the schools in its assaults. The last reminder was made just hours before the shelling, he said.
"Children killed in their sleep; this is an affront to all of us, a source of universal shame. Today the world stands disgraced," he said.
But Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said its army had only fired back against militants who launch mortar bombs against its troops from the vicinity of the school.
IDF has intensified its ground, naval and aerial offensives against the Hamas militants who controlled the Gaza. IDF said its operation will only stop until it defeated the militants, who continue to launch rockets in Israel.
Meanwhile, the United States has also sent its outrage to the shelling of U.N. facility, but was quick to clarify that it was condemning the attacks itself and not Israel, its long-time ally.
In a statement, White House said it is "extremely concerned" over the situation of refugees seeking shelter in the UN designated shelters in Gaza, and said it condemns the people who hide weapons in the said facilities.
Israel earlier said it has evidence that Hamas militants hid weapon cache in U.N.-run facilities in an effort to use civilians as human shields.
After several attempts to broker cease-fire, no truce is in sight to stop the 21-day war that put the Gaza strip community into rubbles.
TagsIsrael, Israel, Gaza Strip, Hamas militants, Unted nations
©2015 Chinatopix All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission
EDITOR'S PICKS
-
Did the Trump administration just announce plans for a trade war with ‘hostile’ China and Russia?
-
US Senate passes Taiwan travel bill slammed by China
-
As Yan Sihong’s family grieves, here are other Chinese students who went missing abroad. Some have never been found
-
Beijing blasts Western critics who ‘smear China’ with the term sharp power
-
China Envoy Seeks to Defuse Tensions With U.S. as a Trade War Brews
-
Singapore's Deputy PM Provides Bitcoin Vote of Confidence Amid China's Blanket Bans
-
China warns investors over risks in overseas virtual currency trading
-
Chinese government most trustworthy: survey
-
Kashima Antlers On Course For Back-To-Back Titles
MOST POPULAR
LATEST NEWS
Zhou Yongkang: China's Former Security Chief Sentenced to Life in Prison
China's former Chief of the Ministry of Public Security, Zhou Yongkang, has been given a life sentence after he was found guilty of abusing his office, bribery and deliberately ... Full Article
TRENDING STORY
-
China Pork Prices Expected to Stabilize As The Supplies Recover
-
Elephone P9000 Smartphone is now on Sale on Amazon India
-
There's a Big Chance Cliffhangers Won't Still Be Resolved When Grey's Anatomy Season 13 Returns
-
Supreme Court Ruled on Samsung vs Apple Dispute for Patent Infringement
-
Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Rumors and Release Date: What is the Latest?