2014 Israeli shelling of UNRWA Gaza shelters
During the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict, many Palestinians fled their homes after warnings by Israel or due to air strikes or fighting in the area.
"[4] The attacks were condemned by members of the UN (UNRWA's parent organization) and other governments, such as the U.S., have expressed "extreme concern" over the safety of Palestinian civilians who "are not safe in UN-designated shelters.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that both Hamas militants and Israel might have committed war crimes.
[5] On 27 April 2015, the United Nations released an inquiry which concluded that Israel was responsible for the deaths of at least 44 Palestinians who died in the shelling and 227 were injured.
[7] Israel says it takes precautions to avoid civilian casualties and collateral damage, making use if a variety of operational measures, including advance warnings and selective application of military force.
[15] Alistair Dawber wrote in The Independent that the "service personnel paint a picture that runs counter to official Israeli military claims that the surgical operation – which became a full-blown conflict after three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped and murdered in the occupied West Bank - took great care to avoid civilian casualties and that Gaza's already fragile infrastructure was not unnecessarily targeted".
The Israeli military said they were "committed to properly investigating all credible claims raised via media, NGOs, and official complaints concerning IDF conduct during operation Protective Edge, in as serious a manner as possible" and that they had done so before and that the group had offered no proof.
[26] The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) operated over 245 institutions and schools across the Gaza Strip.
[36] UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon charged the fact that UN facilities were used by Palestinian militant involved in the fighting to store their weaponry and, in two cases, probably to fire from is "unacceptable".
[29][37] UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said on 31 July 2014 that both Hamas militants and Israel might have committed war crimes.
"[39] According to an investigation by Human Rights Watch, "Three Israeli attacks that damaged Gaza schools housing displaced people caused numerous civilian casualties in violation of the laws of war".
[29] During the three or four days leading to the incident Israel's Coordination and Liaison Administration (CLA) have issued multiple warnings indicating that, rockets were being fired from and around the school and that it needed to be evacuated.
In the morning military activity appeared to have de-escalated and most people chose to leave, decreased their number to approx 450.
[29] Later, after some persuasion, the remaining residents choose to leave, but while awaiting evacuation, the school was hit by indirect artillery fires, resulting in 11 being killed, including seven children, two women,[29][41] and one UN staff member.
[49] According to the Human Rights Watch investigation, the school was hit four times in short succession, and that the Israeli account was "implausible".
At approximately 04:45, the school was hit by a barrage of four 155 MM high explosive (HE) projectiles, an artillery indirect fire weapon.
[52] According to the Human Rights Watch Investigation, "at least one shell apparently hit the roof of a classroom on the second floor where women and children were sleeping.
[29] The Palestine Red Crescent Society announced that the attack occurred while people were in line to get food from aid workers.
[54] Robert Turner, director of operations for the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency in Gaza, said the strike killed at least one UN staffer.
[55] The attack was denounced by the UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon as a "moral outrage" and "criminal act", and condemned by the US State Department as disgraceful.
[56][57][58][59][60] The Government of Israel stated to the UN Board of Inquiry that an examination of the incident was being undertaken at the request of the Military Advocate General (MAG).
[29] Human Rights Watch, 2014 report, questioned the circumstances of the incident and Israeli stated target, saying that Israel has offered no convincing information.
