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Gaza UN shelter attack 'totally unacceptable' - White House Gaza UN shelter attack 'totally unacceptable' - White House
(35 minutes later)
The US has said the shelling of a UN shelter in Gaza is "totally unacceptable and totally indefensible".The US has said the shelling of a UN shelter in Gaza is "totally unacceptable and totally indefensible".
In its strongest criticism yet of Israel's offensive in the Palestinian territory, the US - Israel's closest ally - also said the civilian casualties were "too high".In its strongest criticism yet of Israel's offensive in the Palestinian territory, the US - Israel's closest ally - also said the civilian casualties were "too high".
It urged Israel to do more to protect civilian life.It urged Israel to do more to protect civilian life.
Israel says its offensive in Gaza is designed to defend its population from attacks by Palestinian militants. Israel says its operation in Gaza is designed to defend its population from attacks by Palestinian militants.
The UN has also criticised Israel over the worsening situation in Gaza, saying people there are "facing a precipice". It blames the Hamas militant group for most of the civilian deaths in Gaza, saying its fighters deliberately operate from civilian areas.
Some 425,000 Palestinians - a quarter of Gaza's population - have been displaced by fighting, the UN says. Some 425,000 Palestinians - a quarter of Gaza's population - have now been displaced by the fighting, the UN says.
Meanwhile a senior Israeli official told the BBC that the army had "neutralised" 70-80% of Hamas' offensive tunnel network into Israel. A senior Israeli official has told the BBC that the army has now "neutralised" 70-80% of Hamas' offensive tunnel network into Israel.
Israel says it will not stop its operation in Gaza until all the tunnels - which militants use to infiltrate Israeli territory - have been destroyed.Israel says it will not stop its operation in Gaza until all the tunnels - which militants use to infiltrate Israeli territory - have been destroyed.
Since Israel began its offensive in Gaza on 8 July, 1,422 Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Since Israel began its offensive in Gaza on 8 July, 1,422 Palestinians have been killed and 8,265 injured, most of them civilians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Some 58 Israelis have been killed in total, 56 soldiers and two civilians. A Thai worker in Israel has also died. This means more Palestinians have now been killed than during Operation Cast Lead - the last time Israel took on Hamas in Gaza - in 2008-09.
Some 58 Israelis have been killed in total - 56 soldiers and two civilians. A Thai worker in Israel has also died.
More detail: Life in the Gaza StripMore detail: Life in the Gaza Strip
"The shelling of a UN facility that is housing innocent civilians who are fleeing violence is totally unacceptable and totally indefensible," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters."The shelling of a UN facility that is housing innocent civilians who are fleeing violence is totally unacceptable and totally indefensible," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters.
He was referring to an incident on Wednesday, when at least 16 people were killed when shellfire hit a UN-run school designated as a civilian shelter in the Jabaliya district of Gaza City.He was referring to an incident on Wednesday, when at least 16 people were killed when shellfire hit a UN-run school designated as a civilian shelter in the Jabaliya district of Gaza City.
Mr Earnest said there was little doubt that the shells were fired by the Israeli military.Mr Earnest said there was little doubt that the shells were fired by the Israeli military.
Israeli spokesman Mark Regev told the BBC earlier that Israel would apologise if it discovered it was responsible. Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev told the BBC earlier that Israel would apologise if it discovered it was responsible.
"We have a policy - we don't target civilians," he said."We have a policy - we don't target civilians," he said.
The BBC's Martin Patience at the scene in Gaza:The BBC's Martin Patience at the scene in Gaza:
In a sweltering apartment, 60 members of an extended family have sought shelter.In a sweltering apartment, 60 members of an extended family have sought shelter.
It is a miserable scene. They have only one hour of electricity a day, no running water or food in the fridge.It is a miserable scene. They have only one hour of electricity a day, no running water or food in the fridge.
Even amid the darkness of war, the children still play games inside the apartment.Even amid the darkness of war, the children still play games inside the apartment.
Children five or older here have already lived through three conflicts during their short lives.Children five or older here have already lived through three conflicts during their short lives.
One of the men told me that they had been ordered out of their neighbourhood by Israel. He said his home had been completely destroyed.One of the men told me that they had been ordered out of their neighbourhood by Israel. He said his home had been completely destroyed.
The UN says up to a quarter of Gaza's population has been displaced by the fighting.The UN says up to a quarter of Gaza's population has been displaced by the fighting.
More than 200,000 Palestinians are sheltering at UN schools. But the UN believes a similar number are crammed into homes of their relatives and friends across the territory.More than 200,000 Palestinians are sheltering at UN schools. But the UN believes a similar number are crammed into homes of their relatives and friends across the territory.
The BBC's Bethany Bell at the scene in Jerusalem:The BBC's Bethany Bell at the scene in Jerusalem:
This is the longest conflict between Israel and militants in Gaza, but public backing in Israel for the army's offensive remains strong.This is the longest conflict between Israel and militants in Gaza, but public backing in Israel for the army's offensive remains strong.
That could start to change if the number of Israeli casualties increases significantly, or if there are kidnappings of Israeli soldiers in Gaza.That could start to change if the number of Israeli casualties increases significantly, or if there are kidnappings of Israeli soldiers in Gaza.
But for now many Israelis support Mr Netanyahu's stated aim of destroying the cross-border tunnels.But for now many Israelis support Mr Netanyahu's stated aim of destroying the cross-border tunnels.
The threat of Palestinian gunmen coming up from below the ground into Israeli homes and communities to kill and abduct has shaken people here.The threat of Palestinian gunmen coming up from below the ground into Israeli homes and communities to kill and abduct has shaken people here.
Some Israelis are beginning to ask if the government and the army underestimated the threat of the tunnels, but there is little debate about the mission to destroy them.Some Israelis are beginning to ask if the government and the army underestimated the threat of the tunnels, but there is little debate about the mission to destroy them.
The Pentagon has joined the White House in criticising Israel's Operation Protective Edge, saying the Gaza civilian casualty figure is too high. The Pentagon has joined the White House in criticising Israel's Operation Protective Edge.
"It's become clear that the Israelis need to do more to live up to their very high standards - their very high and very public standards - for protecting civilian life," Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steve Warren told news briefing. "The civilian casualties in Gaza have been too high. And it's become clear that the Israelis need to do more to live up to their very high standards - their very high and very public standards - for protecting civilian life," Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steve Warren told a news briefing.
The UN has also strongly condemned the continuing violence. The UN has also condemned the continuing violence.
"The reality of Gaza today is that no place is safe," UN humanitarian chief Baroness Valerie Amos told the Security Council."The reality of Gaza today is that no place is safe," UN humanitarian chief Baroness Valerie Amos told the Security Council.
The head of Unrwa, the main UN relief agency in Gaza, warned that "the population is facing a precipice".The head of Unrwa, the main UN relief agency in Gaza, warned that "the population is facing a precipice".
"Should further large-scale displacement indeed occur, the occupying power (Israel), according to international humanitarian law, will have to assume direct responsibility to assist these people," Pierre Kraehenbuehl said. "Should further large-scale displacement indeed occur, the occupying power [Israel], according to international humanitarian law, will have to assume direct responsibility to assist these people," Pierre Kraehenbuehl said.
Focus on tunnels
Israel's offensive began with a focus on Islamist militant group Hamas' rocket-launching capability, but it has since expanded to take in the threat from tunnels.Israel's offensive began with a focus on Islamist militant group Hamas' rocket-launching capability, but it has since expanded to take in the threat from tunnels.
Israel blames Hamas for Palestinian civilian deaths, saying the militants deliberately operate from civilian areas. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently discovered an extensive network of tunnels leading from Gaza into Israel, and on the night of 17th July launched an operation to destroy them.
Reports from Israel suggest the discovery of the tunnels - and the reality that infiltrators have used them to kill Israelis inside their own country - has shocked many Israelis and bolstered support for the operation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would not accept any ceasefire that did not allow troops to continue destroying tunnels used by militants to attack Israel.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would not accept any ceasefire that did not allow troops to continue destroying tunnels used by militants to attack Israel.
Hamas says it will not stop fighting until a blockade, maintained by both Israel and Egypt, is lifted.
Israel occupied Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war and only pulled its troops and settlers out in 2005.
Israel considered this the end of the occupation, but it still exercises control over most of Gaza's borders, water and airspace. Egypt controls Gaza's southern border.