Israel says it tried best to avoid hitting sensitive sites in Gaza war

Israel responded on Tuesday to a United Nations report that found it responsible for damaging seven UN facilities during last summer's Gaza War, saying Israel made "every effort" to avoid hitting sensitive sites.

The United Nations Board of Inquiry issued a report on Monday holding Israel responsible for damage caused to seven UN facilities in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry, in a statement issued on Tuesday, stressed its cooperation with UN as well as its own steps in probing incidents that occurred during the 50-day war.

"All of the incidents attributed by the report to Israel have been subject to thorough examinations and criminal investigations have been launched where relevant," the statement read.

"This serves as evidence of Israel's serious approach to this issue, its capacity and desire to carry out independent investigations and its commitment to the rule of law," the statement said. "Israel makes every effort to avoid harm to sensitive sites."

The statement also decried in its response on Tuesday what it described as a "blatant violation of international law" by Palestinian militants in using UN facilities, endangering civilians and UN staff.

The ministry said that it had received a summary of the UN report and will study it carefully.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon established the Board of Inquiry last November following the summer war between Israel and Hamas.

Mentioned in the report, among others, are Israeli fire that hit UN facilities killing 44 Palestinian civilians and injuring over 200 who took shelter there.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Advocate General, Maj.-Gen. Danny Efroni, announced on March 19 that he had ordered a criminal investigation into the shelling of a UN-run school in Jabalia that killed 20 Palestinians on July 30.

After the 50-day war, former IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz established a Fact Finding Assessment Mechanism to handle claims of unlawful military activity. More than 120 incidents were reported, mainly by human rights groups operating in the strip.

Dozens of cases are still being probed, and the advocate general found reasonable ground to suspect the UN school attack was not conducted in accordance with the IDF's rules of conduct.

The IDF said back then the school was hit by tank shells fired by Israel in response to mortar fire by Hamas in the vicinity of the school. The UN, on its part, said it had repeatedly informed the Israeli army of its whereabouts.

More than 2,200 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, were killed, and 18,000 homes destroyed or badly damaged in the war, forcing the displacement of over 10,000 Palestinians.

More than 70 Israelis died during the war, mainly soldiers operating in the Gaza Strip, as well several civilians who died after being hit by rockets fired by Hamas toward communities throughout Israel. Endit