2014 Israeli shelling of UNRWA Gaza shelters

yes January 2020 thumb|UNRWA school being used as shelter, July 2014 The 2014 Israeli shelling of UNRWA Gaza sheltersThere were seven shellings at UNRWA facilities in the Gaza Strip which took place between 21 July and 3 August 2014 during the Israeli-Gaza conflict. The incidents were the result of artillery, mortar or aerial missile fire which struck on or near the UNRWA facilities being used as shelters for Palestinians, and as a result at least 44 civilians, including 10 UN staff, died. During the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict, many Palestinians fled their homes after warnings by Israel or due to air strikes or fighting in the area. An estimated 290,000 people (15% of Gaza's population) took shelter in UNRWA schools. On three occasions, on 16 July,http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/unrwa-strongly-condemns-placement-rockets-school Strongly Condemns Placement of Rockets in School UNRWA 17 July 2014 1 August 2014 22 Julyhttp://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/unrwa-condemns-placement-rockets-second-time-one-its-schools Condemns Placement of Rockets, for a Second Time, in One of Its Schools UNRWA 22 July 2014 2 August 2014 and on 29 July, UNRWA announced that rockets had been found in their schools.Nidal al-Mughrabi Maayan Lubell https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-gaza-idUSKBN0FV04A20140730 Carnage at U.N. school as Israel pounds Gaza Strip Reuters 29 July 2014 2 August 2014 UNRWA denounced the groups responsible for "flagrant violations of the neutrality of its premises". All of these schools were vacant at the time when rockets were discovered; no rockets were found in any shelters which were shelled. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that "Hamas chooses where these battles are conducted and, despite Israel's best efforts to prevent civilian casualties, Hamas is ultimately responsible for the tragic loss of civilian life. There has been repeated abuse of UN facilities by Hamas, with at least three cases of munitions storage within such facilities."Gaza crisis: a closer look at Israeli strikes on UNRWA schools, Raya Jalabi, Tom McCarthy, Nadja Popovich, 8 August 2014, The Guardian The attacks were condemned by members of the UN (UNRWA's parent organization) and other governments, such as the U.S., have expressed "extreme concern" over the safety of Palestinian civilians who "are not safe in UN-designated shelters." The Rafah shelling in particular was widely criticized, with Ban Ki-moon calling it a "moral outrage and a criminal act" and US State Department calling it "appalling" and "disgraceful". UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that both Hamas militants and Israel might have committed war crimes. A Human Rights Watch investigation into three of the incidents concluded that Israel committed war crimes because two of the shellings "did not appear to target a military objective or were otherwise indiscriminate", while the third Rafah shelling was "unlawfully disproportionate".Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of war crimes in Gaza http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-gaza-war-idUKKBN0H60YD20140911 https://web.archive.org/web/20151208123220/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-gaza-war-idUKKBN0H60YD20140911 dead 8 December 2015 Reuters 11 September 2014 Jerusalem On 27 April 2015, the United Nations released an inquiry which concluded that Israel was responsible for the deaths of at least 44 Palestinians who died in the shelling and 227 were injured.http://www.newsweek.com/united-nations-israel-responsible-deaths-gaza-schools-325668 United Nations: Israel Responsible for Deaths at Gaza Schools Newsweek 27 April 2015 27 April 2015 Westcott Background Since the 2005 Israeli disengagement from Gaza, Palestinian militant groups in Gaza have launched rockets into Israel as part of the Gaza–Israel conflict.September 2014 Gaza militants operate in civilian areas, draw return fire to civilian structures, and on some level benefit in the diplomatic arena from the rising casualties. Through the years, Israel has accused Hamas of launching rockets from schools, residential buildings, mosques and hospitals and Hamas has repeatedly been accused of using civilians as a human shields.Israel Says That Hamas Uses Civilian Shields, Reviving Debate. ANNE BARNARD and JODI RUDOREN, The New York Times, 23 July 2014 Israel says it takes precautions to avoid civilian casualties and collateral damage, making use if a variety of operational measures, including advance warnings and selective application of military force.Israel, Gaza and Humanitarian Law: Efforts to Limit Civilian Casualties, JCPA Following the current conflict, U.S. military, General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that Israel went to "extraordinary lengths" to limit civilian casualties and collateral damage during its operation and that the Pentagon had sent a team to see what lessons could be learned from the operation.Israel tried to limit civilian casualties in Gaza: U.S. military chief, reuters, 6 Nov 2014 While a study into a Legal and operational assessment of Israel's targeting practices, found that Israeli targeting practices and positions on the application of the law of armed conflict (LOAC) are broadly within the mainstream of contemporary state practice, and their approach to targeting is consistent with the law and, in many cases, worthy of emulation.A Legal and Operational Assessment of Israel's Targeting Practices; By Michael Schmitt, Professor of International Law and Director of the Stockton Center for the Study of International Law at the U.S. Naval War College And John Merriam, a U.S. Army Judge Advocate currently serving as Associate Director of the Stockton Center. Example of advance warnings include phone messages and dropping leaflets, or by using the technique of roof knocking to warn citizens to evacuate their homes. However, this can also have the effect of worsening the humanitarian situation.http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/15/world/meast/mideast-israel-strike-warnings/index.html Israeli military's 'knock on roof' warnings criticized CNN 15 July 2014 Tim Liste Salma Abdelaziz International critics have said Israel's actions were disproportionate to Palestinian rocket attacks and that led to 2,220 Palestinians being killed in the war, of whom a vast majority were civilians according to figures given by UN.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/fire-at-every-person-you-see-israeli-soldiers-reveal-they-were-ordered-to-shoot-to-kill-in-gaza--even-if-the-targets-may-have-been-civilians-10223427.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/fire-at-every-person-you-see-israeli-soldiers-reveal-they-were-ordered-to-shoot-to-kill-in-gaza--even-if-the-targets-may-have-been-civilians-10223427.html 1 May 2022 subscription live 'Fire at every person': Israeli soldiers reveal they were ordered to shoot to kill in Gaza combat zones – even if targets may have been civilians The Independent 4 May 2015 A report by B'Tselem criticized Israel for bombing homes, which it says led to 606 people getting killed in 70 examined attacks.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/28/israel-policy-targeting-gaza-homes-human-rights Israeli rights group questions legality of targeting Gaza homes in war theguardian.com 28 January 2015https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/11372372/Israels-Gaza-house-bombing-policy-illegal-human-rights-group-says.html Israel's Gaza house bombing policy illegal, human rights group says The Telegraph 28 January 2015 Breaking the Silence said they collected testimonies from over 60 unnamed soldiers to a report which criticized Israel's rules of engagement.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/04/israeli-soldiers-cast-doubt-on-legality-of-gaza-military-operation Israeli soldiers cast doubt on legality of Gaza military tactics theguardian.com 4 May 2015 Alistair Dawber wrote in The Independent that the "service personnel paint a picture that runs counter to official Israeli military claims that the surgical operation – which became a full-blown conflict after three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped and murdered in the occupied West Bank - took great care to avoid civilian casualties and that Gaza's already fragile infrastructure was not unnecessarily targeted". The Israeli military said they were "committed to properly investigating all credible claims raised via media, NGOs, and official complaints concerning IDF conduct during operation Protective Edge, in as serious a manner as possible" and that they had done so before and that the group had offered no proof.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/04/israeli-soldiers-cast-doubt-on-legality-of-gaza-military-operation Israeli soldiers cast doubt on legality of Gaza military tactics theguardian.com 4 May 2015 The Independent saw a letter where Breaking the Silence had contacted the Israeli military and requested a meeting with its chief of staff. Israel has had a strained relationship with the United Nations.May 2015 During the 2008–09 Gaza War, Israel shelled several UN schools.Hadi Ahmed Gaza: Displaced Palestinians forced to leave UNRWA schools http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/20858 https://web.archive.org/web/20150709111603/http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/20858 dead 9 July 2015 Al-Akhbar English 23 July 2014Sherwood Harriet UN dragged into conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/04/un-dragged-conflict-israel-hamas-gaza The Guardian 4 August 2014Mullen Jethro In Gaza, safe havens appear to be anything but safe https://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/31/world/meast/gaza-un-shelters/ CNN 31 July 2014 Among them were the Boys School in Beit Lahiya,UN school attacked; civilians left to bleed to death. Al Mezan Center For Human Rights, 17 January 2009Gaza crisis: key maps and timeline. BBC, 18 January 2009 the Asma Elementary School in Gaza City,Gaza's day of carnage - 40 dead as Israelis bomb two UN schools. Chris McGreal and Hazem Balousha, The Guardian, 7 January 2009, the al-Fakhura school in Jabalia and a school in Khan Younis,IDF: Mortars fired from bombed school. Ynet, 6 January 2009 which were run by the United Nations and were shelters for displaced persons.Israel OK's Gaza "Humanitarian Corridor" CBS News In one incident of a shelling on a UN warehouse also being used as a shelter, white phosphorus was used. In 2014, Gaza–Israel conflict, over 5,000 homes have been destroyed and 30,000 other damaged by the IDF.http://www.dailysabah.com/mideast/2014/07/31/5235-gaza-homes-destroyed-by-israel 5235 Gaza homes destroyed by Israel MidEast 31 July 2014 Daily Sabah 2 August 2014 A total of 460,000 Palestinians have been displaced due to these factors, since the beginning of the current conflict.http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/emergency-reports/gaza-situation-report-24 Gaza Situation Report 24 UNRWA 1 June 2014 2 August 2014 Overview The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) operated over 245 institutions and schools across the Gaza Strip.http://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/gaza-strip Where We Work UNRWA 25 November 2013 2 August 2014 The agency has been providing shelter to people displaced by the Gaza–Israel conflict since 12 July,UNRWA GAZA SITUATION REPORT 15 https://web.archive.org/web/20150527082044/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/DD595E6EC861F04585257D2D0057216C 27 May 2015 eventually operating 89 shelters. Overall, there were seven incidents in which death or injuries occurred at, or damage was done to, UNRWA Shelters. Of these three (Beit Hanoun, Jabaliya and Rafah) resulted in numerous civilian casualties.Israel: In-Depth Look at Gaza School Attacks https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/09/11/israel-depth-look-gaza-school-attacks Human Rights Watch 11 September 2014 Three Israeli attacks that damaged Gaza schools housing displaced people caused numerous civilian casualties The other schools which were shelled include ones in Maghazi (hit twice),Gaza Situation Report 27 https://web.archive.org/web/20140810171100/http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/47d4e277b48d9d3685256ddc00612265/68a77da9833c91cf85257d2a0067b495?OpenDocument 10 August 2014 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. 4 August 2014. Accessed 7 August 2014UNRWA strongly condemns shelling of a school in Gaza sheltering civilians and calls for an investigation. UNRWA, 22 July 2014http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/wrap-847187289 Gaza's humanitarian situation worsens as Egypt continues Rafah stranglehold Middle East Eye 22 July 2014 2 August 2014 Deir El Balah and Zaitoun. As of 24 July, UNRWA closed 23 facilities and Hamas took advantage of the closures to employ some of these vacant UNRWA buildings as weapon storage sites.Colum Lynch, "The U.N. Takes Fire in Gaza", Foreign Policy, 24 July 2014. On three separate occasions, Palestinian weapons and/or weapons components were found to have been placed in UNRWA schools – on 16, 22, and 29 July.Summary of the report of the United Nations Headquarters Board of Inquiry, by the Secretary-Generalhttp://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/unrwa-condemns-placement-rockets-second-time-one-its-schools UNRWA condemns placement of rockets, for a second time, in one of its schools UNRWA denounced the actions as "flagrant violations of the inviolability of its premises".UNRWA Strongly Condemns Placement of Rockets in School http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/unrwa-strongly-condemns-placement-rockets-school 13 September 2014 UNRWA 17 July 2014 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon charged the fact that UN facilities were used by Palestinian militant involved in the fighting to store their weaponry and, in two cases, probably to fire from is "unacceptable".UN Secretary General: Palestinian militants put UN schools at risk during Gaza war, Jerusalem post UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said on 31 July 2014 that both Hamas militants and Israel might have committed war crimes.Gaza conflict: Israel, Hamas both committing war crimes, UN official says Associated Press, 31 July 2014 Israel said on 20 November 2014 that it would cooperate with a UN investigation established by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon because it was "an authentic investigation with potential for us to improve our performance in the course of conflict and learn from our mistakes."al-Mughrabi Nidal Israel to cooperate with U.N. Gaza war inquiry Reuters 20 November 2014 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-israel-un-idUSKCN0J41BM20141120 23 November 2014 According to an investigation by Human Rights Watch, "Three Israeli attacks that damaged Gaza schools housing displaced people caused numerous civilian casualties in violation of the laws of war". It also criticized Palestinian militant groups for three unrelated cases where weapons and/or weapons components were found in vacant UNRWA schools and Israel for occupying one UNRWA school for military purposes. The IDF stated that "Hamas chooses where these battles are conducted and, despite Israel's best efforts to prevent civilian casualties, Hamas is ultimately responsible for the tragic loss of civilian life. Specifically in the case of UN facilities, there has been repeated abuse of UN facilities by Hamas, namely with at least three cases of munitions storage within such facilities." Israel has criticized the UNHRC as biased and announced its own investigation into one incident (Beit Hanoun). Human rights groups have expressed skepticism, with Human Rights Watch, stating "Israel has a long record of failing to undertake credible investigations into alleged war crimes" and B'Tselem refusing to participate in the investigations.Kershner Isabel Israel, Facing Criticism, to Investigate Possible Military Misconduct in Gaza https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/11/world/middleeast/gaza-strip-israel-criminal-investigation.html?_r=0 The New York Times 10 September 2014 Tel Aviv Schools attacked Beit Hanoun Elementary Co-ed School A & D During the 2014 conflict, the area surrounding the Beit Hanoun school was particularly dangerous and, as hostilities intensified, the entire area was exposed to fierce combat. The school was designated as a shelter on 18 July and was hit by indirect artillery fire on 24 July. During the three or four days leading to the incident Israel's Coordination and Liaison Administration (CLA) have issued multiple warnings indicating that, rockets were being fired from and around the school and that it needed to be evacuated. On the day prior to the incident, the situation around the school worsened. The ICRC attempted to evacuate the school, but the majority of the residents refused to leave. During that night shrapnel and gunfire hit the school. In the morning military activity appeared to have de-escalated and most people chose to leave, decreased their number to approx 450. On 24 July, the day of the incident, the IDF warned that it was about to target objectives 800 meters from the school. Given the risk, UNRWA decided to evacuate its staff as well. UNRWA stated that they contacted the CLA and repeatedly requested that a window of opportunity be granted for this purpose, but no such window was granted by the time of the incident. An attempt was made by UNRWA to persuade remaining residents of the school to leave, but they said that they would remain. UNRWA called the CLA and stated that UNRWA would not be evacuating the residents. Later, after some persuasion, the remaining residents choose to leave, but while awaiting evacuation, the school was hit by indirect artillery fires, resulting in 11 being killed, including seven children, two women,http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10536:on-the-18th-day-of-the-israeli-offensive-on-gaza-israeli-warplane-attack-shelter-of-displaced-civilians-killing-11-and-wounding-dozens-israeli-forces-attack-medical-crews-and-ambulances-israeli-forces-attack-gaza-from-the-air-the-sea-and-the-ground-m&catid=36:pchrpressreleases&Itemid=194 Palestinian Center for Human Rights Pchrgaza.org 25 July 2014 2 August 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140910065354/http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10536:on-the-18th-day-of-the-israeli-offensive-on-gaza-israeli-warplane-attack-shelter-of-displaced-civilians-killing-11-and-wounding-dozens-israeli-forces-attack-medical-crews-and-ambulances-israeli-forces-attack-gaza-from-the-air-the-sea-and-the-ground-m&catid=36:pchrpressreleases&Itemid=194 10 September 2014 dead dmy-all and one UN staff member.https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2014/07/24/gaza-fighting-rages-amid-cease-fire-efforts UN school in Gaza caught in cross-fire; 15 killed US News 24 July 2014 2 August 2014 Additionally, 110 were wounded, including 55 children and 31 women.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28468526 BBC News - Gaza UN school shelter hit, 'killing 13' Bbc.com 24 July 2014 2 August 2014 A senior Israel military officer initially stated that the school shelling could have been caused by Israeli forces.http://www.itv.com/news/update/2014-07-24/israels-errant-fire-could-have-caused-school-shelling/ Israel's 'errant fire could have caused school shelling' - ITV News Itv.com 24 July 2014 2 August 2014 Several other Gaza rockets have landed in Beit Hanoun and the IDF had not ruled out one of these rockets landing on the school.Arens Moshe https://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.607138 https://web.archive.org/web/20140725143753/http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.607138 dead 25 July 2014 Source of deadly attack on Gaza UNRWA school remains unclear - Diplomacy and Defense Israel News Haaretz 24 July 2014 2 August 2014 Gaza authorities however said that the school was shelled by Israeli forces.IBRAHIM BARZAK PETER ENAV http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/24/un-school-gaza-shelled_n_5616956.html UN School in Gaza Hit By Shells, At Least 15 Dead (UPDATED) Huffingtonpost.com 24 July 2014 2 August 2014 The IDF on 27 July announced that they had concluded their investigation into the UNRWA deaths. They stated that one IDF mortar bomb had landed in a courtyard of the school but caused no injuries, and that the damage that caused the casualties was not caused by the IDF and UNRWA confirmed rockets fired by Hamas landed in the area.http://www.algemeiner.com/2014/07/27/israel-says-deaths-in-unrwa-school-were-not-caused-by-idf-fire/ Israel Says Deaths in UNRWA School Were Not Caused by Israeli Fire Jewish & Israel News Algemeiner.com 27 July 2014 2 August 2014 The UN stated that they will be conducting their own investigation as well.http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/27/world/meast/mideast-crisis/ Israeli military rejects blame for deaths at U.N. Shelter CNN 27 July 2014 UNRWA rejected the IDF's account, and stated that the initial shell that struck the school was followed by several others within minutes.Sherwood Harriet Balousha Hazem 'The world stands disgraced' – Israeli shelling of school kills at least 15 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/30/world-disgrace-gaza-un-shelter-school-israel 7 August 2014 The Guardian 31 July 2014 UNRWA's preliminary investigation indicated that the school was shelled by the Israel Defense Forces. Reporters who visited the school shortly after the attack said that the damage and debris that they observed was consistent with mortar rounds. According to the Human Rights Watch investigation, the school was hit four times in short succession, and that the Israeli account was "implausible". It concluded that Israeli shells hit the schools. Regarding an Israeli statement that it asked ICRC to help evacuate the facility, but "Hamas prevented civilians from evacuating the area during the window that the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] gave them", Human Rights Watch stated that it found no evidence that Hamas had prevented anyone from leaving. The ICRC stated that it received no request from Israel to evacuate. The UN investigation found that the incident was attributable to the IDF. Jabalia Elementary Girls School A & B The UNRWA School is located in a heavily built up area in the center of the Jabalia Camp. In the weeks and days prior to the incident, there were several incidents of shelling by the IDF of buildings in the vicinity of the School. In the days prior to the incident, armed clashes between militants and the IDF were talking place in the east of the Jabalia Camp and the IDF dropped leaflets requesting residents to move to Gaza City. However, witnesses interviewed by UNRWA had stated that there was no militant activity in the school or in its close vicinity, though one stated that she had heard rockets not far from the school in the days before the incident. At some time between 04:30 and 04:45 in the morning of 30 July, an explosion occurred outside the school, causing shrapnel to fall into the schoolyard. At approximately 04:45, the school was hit by a barrage of four 155 MM high explosive (HE) projectiles, an artillery indirect fire weapon. Between 17 and 18 people were killed and 99 suffered injuries. IDF officials acknowledged that five tank shells hit the school when soldiers responded to Mortar fire from the vicinity of the school.https://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Rockets-found-at-UNRWA-school-for-third-time-369358 IDF accuses Palestinians of firing from vicinity of UNRWA school, says probing deaths 30 July 2014 The IDF stated that Palestinian militants were firing about 200 yards away.New York Times, "Questions of Weapons and Warnings in Past Barrage on a Gaza Shelter", By BEN HUBBARD and JODI RUDOREN 3 August 2014 A journalist from The New York Times who visited Jalabi days after the incident stated that no one they had interviewed had seen "Palestinian fighters or Israeli soldiers in the area... and there were no bullet holes or empty casings suggesting close clashes [in the area]." The UNRWA stated that Israel had been informed 17 times of the shelter's location, in order to avoid it.No Sanctuary in Gaza. UNWRA, 5 August 2014 According to the Human Rights Watch Investigation, "at least one shell apparently hit the roof of a classroom on the second floor where women and children were sleeping. Another shell hit the courtyard." It stated that Israel provided no evidence or information to suggest militants were operating in the area and that it "has not explained why, even if it were responding to militants' mortar fire, it used a weapon as indiscriminate as a high-explosive heavy-artillery shell so near to a UN school housing displaced people." Following the incident, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest condemned the shelling in his daily press briefing on 31 July 2014. He stated that "the shelling of a U.N. facility that is housing innocent civilians who are fleeing violence is totally unacceptable and totally indefensible. And it is clear that we need our allies in Israel to do more to live up to the high standards that they have set for themselves".https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/07/31/press-briefing-press-secretary-josh-earnest-7312014 Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 7/31/2014 31 July 2014 National Archives whitehouse.gov 28 August 2015 Rafah Preparatory A Boys School The school is located in the densely populated city of Rafah, in the southern tip of the Gaza Strip. On the day of the incident it was sheltering approx. 2,700 to 2,900 persons. Between 10:40 and 10:45 of 3 August, a precision-guided missile, launched from the air by the IDF, struck the road outside the school, five to six meters from the school gate. Fifteen persons who were in the vicinity of the gate at the time were killed. The Palestine Red Crescent Society announced that the attack occurred while people were in line to get food from aid workers.Gaza militant leader dies in strike https://web.archive.org/web/20140914032827/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/international/gaza-militant-leader-dies-in-strike-1.505361 14 September 2014 Press Association. 4 August 2014. Accessed 7 August 2014 Robert Turner, director of operations for the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency in Gaza, said the strike killed at least one UN staffer.Israel withdraws most troops from Gaza https://web.archive.org/web/20140826211051/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/israeli-begins-redeploying-along-gaza-border 26 August 2014 Associated Press The attack was denounced by the UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon as a "moral outrage" and "criminal act", and condemned by the US State Department as disgraceful.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28632287 BBC News - Gaza crisis: Rafah school strike 'criminal' - UN chief BBC News 3 August 2014 12 August 2014https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/03/us-appalled-disgraceful-israeli-shelling-gaza-un-school US 'appalled' by 'disgraceful' Israeli shelling of Gaza UN school World news theguardian.com The Guardian 3 August 2014 12 August 2014https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/03/israel-air-strike-un-school-gaza-rafah Gaza school attack denounced as 'criminal act' by UN chief World news theguardian.com The Guardian 3 August 2014 12 August 2014http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/03/un-school-shelling-_n_5645771.html State Department Condemns 'Disgraceful' Shelling of U.N. School in Gaza 3 August 2014 huffingtonpost.com 12 August 2014http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/unrwa-condemns-israeli-strike-next-unrwa-school-killing-civilians UNRWA Condemns Israeli Strike Next to UNRWA School Killing Civilians UNRWA unrwa.org 12 August 2014 The Government of Israel stated to the UN Board of Inquiry that an examination of the incident was being undertaken at the request of the Military Advocate General (MAG). The IDF had fired an aerial-launched missile at the motorcycle, which had been carrying three militants from Palestinian Islamic Jihad. By the time that it became apparent that the strike would coincide with the motorcycle passing by the school gate, it had no longer been possible to divert the missile. Human Rights Watch, 2014 report, questioned the circumstances of the incident and Israeli stated target, saying that Israel has offered no convincing information. The UN Board of Inquiry 2015 report confirmed that the missile had been directed at a motorcycle carrying three individuals. Table # School Date Killed Wounded Place 1 Maghazi Preparatory Girls School A & B 21 July 2014 Maghazi Camp 2 Maghazi Preparatory Girls School A & B 22 July 2014 – 1 Maghazi Camp 3 Deir El Balah Preparatory Girls School C 23 July 2014 – 5Gaza crisis: UN claims Israel did not allow evacuation from shelter before strikes - as it happened The Guardian. 24 July 2014. Accessed 7 August 2014 Deir al-Balah 4 Beit Hanoun Elementary Co-ed School A & D 24 July 2014 15'Appalled' by attack on UN-run school in Gaza, Ban urges halt to all fighting United Nations News Centre 20015 killed as Israel bombs UN school in Gaza, three shot dead at West Bank protest RTÉ.ie Beit Hanoun 5 Zaitoun Preparatory Girls School B 29 July 2014. Zeitoun 6 Jabalia Elementary Girls School A & B 29 July 2014UNRWA Strongly Condemns Israeli Shelling of Its School in Gaza as a Serious Violation of International Law. UNRWA, 30 July 2014 15Carnage at U.N. school as Israel pounds Gaza Strip, 30 July 2014, Reuters-20United Nations secretary general rips Israel for attacking school that sheltered Gaza refugees, killing 20 New York Daily News 100+Israeli shells hit second UN school sheltering Gaza refugees AljazeeraUN: 'world stands disgraced' as shelter for Gaza children is shelled by Israel, 30 July 2014, The Guardian Jabalia Camp 7 Rafah Preparatory A Boys SchoolBan Ki-moon declares Israeli attack on UN school 'a criminal act' https://web.archive.org/web/20150925193637/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israelgaza-conflict-ban-kimoon-declares-israeli-attack-on-un-school-a-criminal-act-9645278.html 25 September 2015 The Independent. 3 August 2014. Accessed 7 August 2014 3 August 2014 at least 10UN voices outrage over Gaza school strike. Al Jazeera, 4 August 2014 35UN Chief: Attack At School In Gaza 'Criminal Act' WBUR-FM Rafah Total 40+ including 10+ UN staff members 341+ Reactions UN – Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of United Nations, condemned the Jubalia Camp incident at the school, describing it as "unjustifiable".U.S., U.N. slam Israel over Gaza school attack Al Arabiya After the 29 July incident, he pointed out that the precise location of this school had been communicated to the Israeli military authorities 17 times. He said: "Nothing is more shameful than attacking sleeping children"US and UN condemn school shelling BBC Ban Ki-moon described the attack on Rafah school as a "moral outrage and a criminal act" and called for those responsible for the "gross violation of international humanitarian law" to be held accountable.al-Mughrabi Nidal Williams Dan Censured over shelter deaths, Israel declares seven-hour Gaza truce https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-gaza-idUSKBN0G008720140804 4 August 2014 Reuters 3 August 2014 UNRWA - Pierre Krähenbühl, Commissioner-General of the UNRWA, said: "Our shelters are overflowing. Tens of thousands may soon be stranded in the streets of Gaza, without food, water and shelter if attacks on these areas continue."Israel-Gaza conflict - live The Daily Telegraph "We have moved beyond what humanitarian action alone can deal with. This is now the time for political action. It is the time for accountability," he said. Krähenbühl described the Jubalia Camp incident as "probably one of the most tragic protection failures that the international community has witnessed." Asked to explain the scale of the civilian suffering to an Arab news station, UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness simply burst into tears. "We have reached breaking point; our staff are being killed, our shelters overflowing", he adds.Al-Mughrabi Nidal Browning Noah Under fire and out of cash, U.N. overwhelmed by Gaza crisis https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-gaza-un-idUSKBN0G01DL20140731 31 July 2014 Reuters 31 July 2014 USA – A White House spokesman, said: "We are extremely concerned that thousands of internally displaced Palestinians who have been called on by the Israeli military to evacuate their homes are not safe in UN-designated shelters in Gaza." They continued by condemning "those responsible for hiding weapons in United Nations facilities in Gaza."U.S. condemns shelling of U.N. school in Gaza Washington Times US State Department said in a statement that the US is "appalled" by the "disgraceful shelling" outside the school in Rafah and urged Israel to do more to avoid civilian casualties. France – Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israeli military attack that rocked a United Nations school in Jubalia in Gaza's biggest refugee camp.France condemns Israeli shelling on UN school in Gaza Xinhua See also Israel and the United Nations References 30em External links awmIZoBZ-4k Attack on UN school in Gaza Video: UN spokesman Chris Gunness breaks down during interview on Gaza The Guardian Category:2014 Gaza War Category:July 2014 in Asia Category:August 2014 in Asia Category:Violations of medical neutrality during the Israeli–Palestinian conflict Category:Israeli war crimes Category:UNRWA Category:2014 building bombings Category:School bombings in the Gaza Strip Category:Attacks on schools in 2014