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Gaza crisis: Rafah school strike 'criminal' - UN chief Gaza crisis: Rafah school strike 'criminal' - UN chief
(about 1 hour later)
An attack that killed 10 people at a UN-run Gaza school was a "moral outrage and a criminal act", UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said.An attack that killed 10 people at a UN-run Gaza school was a "moral outrage and a criminal act", UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said.
Mr Ban said the "gross violation of international law" meant those responsible should be held accountable. It constituted a "gross violation of international law", Mr Ban said.
The attack in Rafah hit the entrance of the school, where thousands of Palestinians displaced by the Israel-Hamas conflict are sheltering. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the US was appalled by the "disgraceful" shelling.
Israel denies firing into the school but says there was fighting nearby. The blast hit the entrance of the school, which is sheltering thousands displaced by the conflict. Israel denies firing into the school.
It says there was fighting nearby when the blast went off.
Government spokesman Mark Regev said that if militant group Hamas was turning the vicinities of schools into war zones they should be held accountable.Government spokesman Mark Regev said that if militant group Hamas was turning the vicinities of schools into war zones they should be held accountable.
Gaza health officials say 30 people have died on Sunday, while militants continue to fire rockets into Israel.Gaza health officials say 30 people have died on Sunday, while militants continue to fire rockets into Israel.
The latest exchanges came after Israel's military said that an officer it feared captured had now been confirmed dead. Hadar Goldin went missing on Friday near Rafah.The latest exchanges came after Israel's military said that an officer it feared captured had now been confirmed dead. Hadar Goldin went missing on Friday near Rafah.
His funeral was held in the Israeli town of Kfar Saba on Sunday afternoon.His funeral was held in the Israeli town of Kfar Saba on Sunday afternoon.
Confirmation of 2nd Lt Goldin's death means 66 Israelis have now died in the fighting, all but two of them soldiers. A Thai worker in Israel also died.Confirmation of 2nd Lt Goldin's death means 66 Israelis have now died in the fighting, all but two of them soldiers. A Thai worker in Israel also died.
The latest official figures from Gaza's health ministry say that more than 1,750 Palestinians have been killed and more than 9,000 injured since the conflict began more than three weeks ago.The latest official figures from Gaza's health ministry say that more than 1,750 Palestinians have been killed and more than 9,000 injured since the conflict began more than three weeks ago.
'Madness must stop''Madness must stop'
The UN has warned that a "health disaster of widespread proportions" is unfolding in Gaza, with medical services facing collapse.The UN has warned that a "health disaster of widespread proportions" is unfolding in Gaza, with medical services facing collapse.
In the latest incident, eyewitnesses said a missile struck as people queued for food.In the latest incident, eyewitnesses said a missile struck as people queued for food.
At least 30 people were also hurt on Sunday, Palestinian officials said. Images showed injured children being carried away.At least 30 people were also hurt on Sunday, Palestinian officials said. Images showed injured children being carried away.
Mr Ban described Sunday's attack as "yet another gross violation of international humanitarian law", and said Israel had regularly been informed of the precise location of the school.Mr Ban described Sunday's attack as "yet another gross violation of international humanitarian law", and said Israel had regularly been informed of the precise location of the school.
"This madness must stop," he said in a statement."This madness must stop," he said in a statement.
It follows the shelling of a Jabaliya shelter last week, which killed 16 people. The incident follows the shelling of a Jabaliya shelter last week, which killed 16 people.
Robert Turner, director of operations for the UN Palestinian refugee agency in Gaza, said: "The locations of all of these installations have been passed to the Israeli military multiple times. Ms Psaki called for an investigation into attacks on UN schools.
"They know where these shelters are. How this continues to happen, I have no idea." "The United States is appalled by today's disgraceful shelling outside an Unrwa school in Rafah sheltering some 3,000 displaced persons," she said in a statement.
On Sunday, Israel said its forces were withdrawing from some areas of Gaza to a "temporary security strip" to reassess operations.On Sunday, Israel said its forces were withdrawing from some areas of Gaza to a "temporary security strip" to reassess operations.
Israeli media reports say most troops have now left Gaza, although there has been no official order to end the operation, which began on 8 July.Israeli media reports say most troops have now left Gaza, although there has been no official order to end the operation, which began on 8 July.
Military spokesman Lt-Col Peter Lerner said troops were "in the midst of a redeployment to other parts of the border", adding that troops were being released from the front line.Military spokesman Lt-Col Peter Lerner said troops were "in the midst of a redeployment to other parts of the border", adding that troops were being released from the front line.
But he said the mission was ongoing and ground forces were operating.But he said the mission was ongoing and ground forces were operating.
Reports said the military was close to completing its main aim of destroying tunnels used by militants to infiltrate Israel.Reports said the military was close to completing its main aim of destroying tunnels used by militants to infiltrate Israel.
However, on Saturday PM Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israel would "do whatever it must do to protect its people".However, on Saturday PM Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israel would "do whatever it must do to protect its people".
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the group would "continue to resist until we achieve our goals".Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the group would "continue to resist until we achieve our goals".
Delegations from Hamas, which controls Gaza, and Islamic Jihad arrived in Cairo on Sunday for talks with Egyptian and US officials over a possible truce.Delegations from Hamas, which controls Gaza, and Islamic Jihad arrived in Cairo on Sunday for talks with Egyptian and US officials over a possible truce.
However, Israel has said it will not attend the talks.However, Israel has said it will not attend the talks.
Analysis: Martin Patience, BBC News, Gaza The almost four-week conflict began amid tension around the kidnap and murder of three Israeli teens and a Palestinian youth, and the arrests of hundreds of Hamas members in the West Bank.
There does seem to be some sign of Israeli forces withdrawing in some parts of the Gaza Strip, particularly in the northern part. Residents in one neighbourhood, Beit Lahiya, have been told they can go back. A surge of violence ensued, with militants in Gaza firing volleys of rockets into Israel and Gaza being hit by waves of Israeli air strikes.
One man there told me about 20% of families had returned. They'd been evacuated at the start of this conflict as people were fleeing the bombing and shooting. People were saying militants were using that area to launch rockets into Israel. Later Israel sent in ground troops to destroy a network of tunnels dug by militants under the border into Israel.
I asked one man whether or not he felt safe. He said he thought the situation wasn't safe, but people were phoning him to ask whether or not they should come back. He was telling them they should.
He said the reason for that, in his own words, was: "I would rather die in my own home than in a UN school."
Analysis: Bethany Bell, BBC News, Jerusalem
Senior Israeli officials say that their target to destroy the cross-border tunnels is almost complete.
And with the news that the Israeli soldier missing since Friday is dead, there will be far less public pressure on the Israeli government to leave its troops on the ground.
Israel, for now, seems to be ignoring international pressure to negotiate a ceasefire, although it hasn't ruled out a possible diplomatic solution.
And there is little sign that Israel is prepared to start tackling the underlying causes of the conflict, such as the crippling economic blockade on Gaza, and Israel's tight control of its airspace and most borders.
Unless that happens, it is feared that another round of violence is simply a matter of time.
Are you in Gaza or Israel? Have you been affected by the violence? You can send us your views and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Gaza Israel". If you are willing to feature in an interview, please ensure you include your contact details and a photograph of yourself to help us illustrate the story.Are you in Gaza or Israel? Have you been affected by the violence? You can send us your views and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Gaza Israel". If you are willing to feature in an interview, please ensure you include your contact details and a photograph of yourself to help us illustrate the story.