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Official Vents Outrage at Shelling of U.N. Schools in Gaza Official Vents Outrage at Shelling of U.N. Schools in Gaza
(about 14 hours later)
UNITED NATIONS — A senior United Nations official on Thursday forcibly rebuffed suggestions that the organization’s lax security had allowed militants to use its facilities in Gaza as a weapons cache and expressed outrage that three of its schools had been hit by shelling in as many days this week, even though the Israeli military knew their precise locations. UNITED NATIONS — A senior United Nations official on Thursday forcefully rebuffed suggestions that the organization’s lax security had allowed militants to use its facilities in Gaza as a weapons cache and expressed outrage that three of its schools had been hit by shelling in as many days this week, even though the Israeli military knew their precise locations.
John Ging, the director of operations for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said in an interview here that his organization had protested vigorously to both sides.John Ging, the director of operations for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said in an interview here that his organization had protested vigorously to both sides.
He added that the United Nations had given the Israeli military precise GPS locations of all 83 schools that were being used as shelters for 141,000 people who had fled their homes. On Tuesday, one school was hit, wounding one person. On Wednesday, another was hit, wounding five. On Thursday, 16 were killed, the majority women and children, at the school in Beit Hanoun.He added that the United Nations had given the Israeli military precise GPS locations of all 83 schools that were being used as shelters for 141,000 people who had fled their homes. On Tuesday, one school was hit, wounding one person. On Wednesday, another was hit, wounding five. On Thursday, 16 were killed, the majority women and children, at the school in Beit Hanoun.
“There is no justification for the loss of so many innocent civilian lives,” Mr. Ging said.“There is no justification for the loss of so many innocent civilian lives,” Mr. Ging said.
He wondered aloud how Israel’s “sophisticated weaponry” could allow known United Nations locations to come under shelling, though he said the agency did not yet fully know who fired the shells and from where.He wondered aloud how Israel’s “sophisticated weaponry” could allow known United Nations locations to come under shelling, though he said the agency did not yet fully know who fired the shells and from where.
“They often claim in their public relations that they pride themselves on pinpoint accuracy,” he said. “That’s why when people seek refuge in schools they do expect they would be safe there. But that, as we now know, has tragically not been the case on three different occasions this week. We need accountability around that.”“They often claim in their public relations that they pride themselves on pinpoint accuracy,” he said. “That’s why when people seek refuge in schools they do expect they would be safe there. But that, as we now know, has tragically not been the case on three different occasions this week. We need accountability around that.”
Israeli officials have denied intentionally making the Beit Hanoun school a target and said they had warned the United Nations that the school should be evacuated because it was in a combat zone.Israeli officials have denied intentionally making the Beit Hanoun school a target and said they had warned the United Nations that the school should be evacuated because it was in a combat zone.
Asked about the rockets found on two United Nations premises, which critics say point to lax security — even bias against Israel — Mr. Ging said that his colleagues in Gaza had found the weapons themselves in locations they had to abandon because of fighting, and that when they found them, had spoken out strongly about it.Asked about the rockets found on two United Nations premises, which critics say point to lax security — even bias against Israel — Mr. Ging said that his colleagues in Gaza had found the weapons themselves in locations they had to abandon because of fighting, and that when they found them, had spoken out strongly about it.
“When a school is under U.N. control they are most definitely not being used to store weapons, nor does the U.N. allow any armed person to enter the premises,” he said.“When a school is under U.N. control they are most definitely not being used to store weapons, nor does the U.N. allow any armed person to enter the premises,” he said.
In the past, he noted, United Nations facilities had been occupied by Israeli soldiers and militants alike. This week, rockets were found in two separate schools.In the past, he noted, United Nations facilities had been occupied by Israeli soldiers and militants alike. This week, rockets were found in two separate schools.
In the second school where rockets were found, United Nations staff had returned earlier Thursday to see whether it was safe for civilians to come back — only to find that the rockets were missing. In a statement, Samantha Power, the American ambassador to the United Nations, said: “We condemn the use of these facilities to house rockets and launch attacks on civilians in Israel, and we emphasize that civilians seeking shelter in those facilities must be respected and protected.” In the second school where rockets were found, United Nations staff had returned earlier Thursday to see whether it was safe for civilians to come back — only to find that the rockets were missing. In a statement, Samantha Power, the American ambassador to the United Nations, said: “We condemn the use of these facilities to house rockets and launch attacks on civilians in Israel, and we emphasize that civilians seeking shelter in those facilities must be respected and protected.” 
Mr. Ging directed the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza from 2006 to 2011, including during the conflict that began in 2008. Unlike then, he said, there are no humanitarian pauses in the fighting now: “There is no moment to draw breath, especially for kids.”Mr. Ging directed the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza from 2006 to 2011, including during the conflict that began in 2008. Unlike then, he said, there are no humanitarian pauses in the fighting now: “There is no moment to draw breath, especially for kids.”