Watch: U.N. official breaks down over deaths of Palestinian children
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As my colleagues report, Palestinian officials and a U.N. agency say Israeli artillery shells on Wednesday hit a U.N.-run school that was sheltering Palestinian families, killing at least 20. A U.N. statement pinned the blame on the Israeli military, which says it's investigating the incident. "Today the world stands disgraced," the statement read. For Chris Gunness, a spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which has numerous facilities in Gaza, it's all too much. This is the sixth time UNRWA sites have been hit during Israel's current campaign. He broke down sobbing during an interview, footage of which was screened by Al Jazeera Arabic. Watch above. So far in more than three weeks of fighting, 1,340 Palestinians have died, the majority of whom were civilians, including many women and children. Fifty-three Israeli soldiers have perished, as have three civilians in Israel, one of whom was a farm worker from Thailand. Earlier in the day, Gunness tweeted these plaintive entreaties: UNRWA is overwhelmed in #Gaza we have reached breaking point, our staff are being killed our shelters overflowing. Where will it end? RT— Chris Gunness (@ChrisGunness) July 30, 2014 UNRWA is overwhelmed in #Gaza we have reached breaking point, our staff are being killed our shelters overflowing. Where will it end? RT UNRWA #Gaza has opened 1 new shelter in the south so there are now 86 housing 219, 657, average shelter population is 2,554. Appaling RT— Chris Gunness (@ChrisGunness) July 30, 2014 UNRWA #Gaza has opened 1 new shelter in the south so there are now 86 housing 219, 657, average shelter population is 2,554. Appaling RT There are now 204,166 in UNRWA 85 shelters across #Gaza More leaving homes. Human displacement crisis. Appalling. RT— Chris Gunness (@ChrisGunness) July 30, 2014 There are now 204,166 in UNRWA 85 shelters across #Gaza More leaving homes. Human displacement crisis. Appalling. RT International community must take deliberate international political action to put an immediate end to the continuing carnage in #Gaza RT— Chris Gunness (@ChrisGunness) July 30, 2014 International community must take deliberate international political action to put an immediate end to the continuing carnage in #Gaza RT We have moved beyond the realm of humanitarian action alone re #Gaza We are in the realm of accountability RT— Chris Gunness (@ChrisGunness) July 30, 2014 We have moved beyond the realm of humanitarian action alone re #Gaza We are in the realm of accountability RT Powerful & important statement by @PKraehenbuehl http://t.co/ToSwf30HQ8 RT— Chris Gunness (@ChrisGunness) July 30, 2014 Powerful & important statement by @PKraehenbuehl http://t.co/ToSwf30HQ8 RT |