The Israel Defense Forces have once again struck a U.N. school shelter, killing 10 people.
The airstrike was intended for three Hamas militants that were riding motorcycles right outside of the school gates, but the missile blew shrapnel in the direction of the shelter, killing seven civilians who had sought refuge at the school. According to the Washington Post, many Palestinian refugees were outside of the building at the time of the attack to buy food and ice cream from a vendor.
In addition to the civilians killed, 40 refugees were injured by the shrapnel from the airstrike. The three Hamas militants were killed in the attack, as well, making the death toll a total of 10.
This latest strike has earned Israel the most criticism from world leaders since the beginning of the conflict. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said the airstrike was a “moral outrage and a criminal act.”
State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said, “the United States is appalled by today’s disgraceful shelling.” The State Department is now calling for an investigation of the deadly attack.
Capt. Eytan Buchman, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson, maintains that the refugees staying at the U.N. shelter were not the target. “We identified a successful hit on the target. We definitely don’t target civilians or school,” Buchman said.
Publication date: August 4, 2014
