UN humanitarian chief alarmed at violence in Gaza

UN humanitarian chief called the attack on a UN school in Gaza that killed at least 13 people early Wednesday a gross violation of international law, saying she was alarmed at the intensity of the violence in Gaza, which showed no signs of abating despite international efforts to broker a ceasefire.

The strike came the day after Israel ramped up bombardments of the offensive against Hamas and raised the Palestinian death toll to above 1,300 in more than three weeks of fighting.

Valerie Amos, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said another UN compound in Gaza housing the special coordinator and humanitarian coordinator was hit five times between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. local time.

Fortunately, UN security personnel working from a safe room in the compound were unharmed, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here Wednesday.

"The special coordinator, Robert Serry, is deeply concerned about this incident and other violations of United Nations premises during the conflict and condemns the loss of civilian lives, including United Nations personnel, in these incidents," Dujarric said.

On Tuesday, the Gaza strip's sole power plant was also hit by Israeli airstrike. The station's shutdown further disrupted the supply of electricity to the people packed into the narrow Palestinian coastal territory, leaving most homes with an average two hours of electricity per day.

Amos also expressed her hope that all those with influence over the parties involved in this conflict will continue to do their utmost to agree on a lasting ceasefire and bring this conflict to an end, Dujarric said.

Five more Palestinians were reportedly killed in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday after Israel's four-hour cease-fire proposal was rejected by Hamas, who deemed Israel's truce proposal "worthless" and "an act of media maneuver." The Israeli strikes came shortly after Hamas's rejection.