United Nations’ Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned a deadly attack on a Gaza school yesterday as a “moral outrage and a criminal act” and demanded those responsible for the “gross violation of international humanitarian law” be held accountable.

The shelling of the UN school in Rafah in southern Gaza killed at least 10 civilians, the UN said.

It was the third deadly attack on a UN school sheltering Palestinians during the 27-day conflict between Israel and Hamas militants.

All three incidents are being investigated, but the UN has initially blamed Israel for yesterday’s attack and another strike last Wednesday on a UN-run school in Jabalya refugee camp that killed at least 15 civilians.

“The Israel Defence Forces have been repeatedly informed of the location of these sites,” Ban’s spokesman said in a statement.

“This attack, along with other breaches of international law, must be swiftly investigated and those responsible held accountable. It is a moral outrage and a criminal act,” the statement said.

Israel began its offensive against Gaza on July 8 after a surge of cross-border rocket salvoes by Hamas and other guerrillas.

The fighting pushed the Gaza death toll given by Palestinian officials to 1,772, most of them civilians. Israel has confirmed that 64 soldiers have died in combat, while Palestinian rockets have also killed three civilians in Israel.

Ban again demanded an end to the fighting and for the parties to begin negotiations in Cairo to address the underlying issues of the conflict.

“The resurgence in fighting has only exacerbated the man-made human-itarian and health crisis wreaking havoc in Gaza,” the statement said. “This madness must stop.”

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