UN says Israeli shelling of Gaza 'disgraces the world'

The United Nations relief agency’s Commissioner General Pierre Krahenbuhl condemns killing children in their sleep

The United Nations has condemned the overnight bombardment of a designated shelter, in which 15 civilians were killed, as a “serious violation of international law.”

In a statement on Wednesday, the UN relief agency’s Commissioner General Pierre Krahenbuhl said: “Last night, children were killed as they slept next to their parents on the floor of a classroom in a UN designated shelter in Gaza.”

“Children killed in their sleep. This is an affront to all of us, a source of universal shame. Today the world stands disgraced.”

He added: “I condemn in the strongest possible terms this serious violation of international law by Israeli forces.”

The agency’s initial assessment said 3,300 were sheltering in Jabalia Elementary Girls School when it was hit by artillery fire. Dozens were injured in the attack.

Krahenbuhl noted that the Israeli military had been told 17 times that the school was housing displaced civilians, the final time “just hours” before the shelling.

“l call on the international community to take deliberate international political action to put an immediate end to the continuing carnage,” Krahenbuhl added.

More than 182,600 people have sought refuge in 82 designated emergency shelters in all five areas of Gaza, the UN said.