US appalled by third UN school shelling by Israeli forces in Gaza conflict
Israeli shelling hit another United Nations school packed with refugees in Gaza on Sunday, killing at least 10 people.
The "disgraceful" shelling prompted one of the most strongly-worded statements from Washington since the conflict began almost a month ago.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: "The United States is appalled by today's disgraceful shelling outside an UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Work Agency) school in Rafah sheltering some 3,000 displace persons..."
"We once again stress that Israel must do more to meet its own standards and avoid civilian casualties," said Psaki.
She added that the UN had "repeatedly" warned the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) of the schools' precise locations.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the attack "a moral outrage and a criminal act".
IDF said that it was targeting terrorists on board a motorcycle "in the vicinity of an UNRWA school". It is reviewing the consequences of the strike, an army statement said.
Following the attack, Israel has declared a seven-hour humanitarian truce that will begin at 3pm today (Singapore time).
Source: AFP
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