UN school in Gaza shelled, 15 dead

World Today

UN-run school in Gaza shelled, 15 lives claimedThe body of Ali al-Shibari, a 10-year-old Palestinian child who was killed after a UN school in the northern Beit Hanun district of the Gaza Strip was hit by an Israeli shell, lies wrapped in shrouds at the morgue of the Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahiya on July 24, 2014. ( Photo: AFP/Mahmud Hams)

A UN-run school in northern Gaza was shelled Thursday, reportedly killing 15 people. The strike has been linked to Israeli forces and it comes just a day after UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon criticized Hamas for storing rockets in a different UN-run school. CCTV’s Nick Harper reports.

The school was housing hundreds, even possibly more than 1,000 refugees. Ki-Moon said he was appalled by the attack and strongly condemned it. The Israeli army says it is investigating the matter.

UN-run school in Gaza shelled, 15 lives claimed

A UN-run school in northern Gaza was shelled Thursday, reportedly killing 15 people.The strike has been linked to Israeli forces and it comes just a day after UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon criticized Hamas for storing rockets in a different UN-run school. CCTV's Nick Harper reports.

Follow Nick Harper on Twitter @NickHarperFSNo

There was chaos as the injured were carried into one of the hospitals. Many are very young.

The UN’s top humanitarian official said the fighting must end.

“Of course, some kind of cease-fire and stop to the violence is absolutely vital,” said Valerie Amos, UN humanitarian chief. “In the meantime, we are extremely concerned with the deteriorated humanitarian situation. People are running out of food. Water is also a serious concern. The situation is even more dire.”

Israel’s prime minister criticized a UN Human Rights Council decision to launch an inquiry into alleged war crime violations committed by Israel.

“It’s a travesty of justice, it’s a travesty of fairness, it’s a travesty of common sense, it’s a travesty of truth and I think that it will not prevent us from continuing to act to defend our people.” — Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu

Hamas refuses to agree to a truce until Israel stops the Gaza blockade. The conflict, which has already claimed at least 750 lives in just 17 days, continues.

This was the fourth time a UN facility has been hit in Gaza fighting since the Israeli operation began on July 8. UNRWA, the U.N’s Palestinian refugee agency, said it discovered dozens of Hamas rockets hidden inside two vacant schools, but UN spokesman Farhan Haq said the school hit Thursday in the northern town of Beit Hanoun was not one of them.

Chris Gunness, spokesperson for the UN agency running the school, talked with CCTV-America’s Phillip Yin and said Israel knew the building was housing refugees.

Spokesman for the UN talks shelling of school in Gaza

Spokesperson for the UN agency running the school, Chris Gunness, spoke to CCTV's Phillip Yin and said Israel knew the building was housing refugees.

Follow Phillip Yin on Twitter @PhillipTKYin

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.