US ‘APPALLED’ BY ISRAEL’S ‘DISGRACEFUL’ SHELLING OF UN SCHOOL

Washington, 9 Shawwal 1435/5 August 2014 (MINA) – The US State Department yesterday said it was “appalled” by the “disgraceful” Israeli shelling of a UN school sheltering displaced civilians in the city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip which led to the killing of 10 Palestinians.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: “The United States is appalled by today’s disgraceful shelling outside an UNRWA school in Rafah sheltering some 3,000 displaced persons, in which 10 more Palestinian civilians were tragically killed. We once again stress that Israel do more to meet its own standards and avoid civilian casualties.”

Psaki called for an investigation into the recent Israeli attacks against schools run by the United Nations, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Tuesday.

One of US President Barak Obama’s most senior advisors, Valerie Jarrett said, during an interview with CBC’s Face the Nation, that it was not possible to condone the Israeli bombardment against sites close to places sheltering innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip.

She said: “President Obama is frustrated and worried about the continuing violence despite the US Secretary of State’s mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement between the two sides.

“It’s a devastating situation. Israel absolutely has the right to defend itself, and we are Israel’s staunchest ally, but you also can’t condone the killing of all of these innocent children.”

Ten Palestinians were killed and 30 more were wounded in an Israeli aerial raid against an UNRWA school in the southern Gaza Strip which is the third attack on a school sheltering displaced Palestinians since the start of the war on Gaza. (T/E01/IR)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)