[IDF Spokesperson: In the past few days, the area surrounding the UNRWA
school in Beit Hanoun has turned into a battlefield, therefore prompting the
IDF to insist those present to evacuate it. Furthermore, the IDF authorized
a humanitarian time window for evacuation between 10:00-14:00 IDT earlier
today. Hamas prevented the civilians from leaving it and once again used
their infrastructure and international symbols as human shields. In the
course of the afternoon, several rockets launched by Hamas from within the
Gaza Strip landed in the Beit Hanoun area. From initial inquiries done about
the incident, during the intense fighting in the area, militants opened fire
at IDF soldiers from the school area. In order to eliminate the threat posed
to their lives, they responded with fire toward the origins of the shooting.

The IDF is still reviewing the incident.

Furthermore, according to the COGAT Spokesman, the UNRWA claims that Israel
prevented the safe evacuation of the school in Beit Hanoun are unfounded. It
should be emphasized that during recent days, COGAT has been maintaining
close contact with representatives of the UNRWA, the ICRC, and Palestinians
in Beit Hanoun. COGAT made every possible effort to ensure the safety of
local residents by evacuating them from the area, which has been marked by
intense fighting and Hamas rocket launching towards Israel, including from
the vicinity of such facilities. It should be further emphasized that
following this contact, the humanitarian window was authorized.]

Statement by the UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl
Multiple deaths and injuries at UNRWA school in Beit Hanoun, Gaza

24 July 2014
Jerusalem

The scenes of carnage and human suffering that we witnessed today at our
elementary school in Beit Hanoun were so appalling and intolerable, that it
is difficult to find the words to convey adequately my indignation. As has
happened so many times in this pitiless conflict, civilians are paying the
highest price of the current military escalation. I condemn this callous
shelling and the extensive loss of life in the strongest possible terms and
call for an immediate investigation to ensure that circumstances and
responsibilities are comprehensively and irrefutably established.

At approximately 14:55 today, as hostilities were intensifying, UNRWA’s Beit
Hanoun Elementary Co-Ed A and D school compound was struck by explosive
projectiles, causing death and injuries to multiple displaced Palestinian
civilians who had sought refuge in this UN installation. This school had
been designated as an UNRWA Emergency Shelter.

The security situation in the Beit Hanoun area was deteriorating rapidly and
over the course of the day UNRWA had been attempting to negotiate with the
Israeli Defence Forces a pause in the fighting during which they would
guarantee a safe corridor to relocate staff and any displaced persons who
chose to evacuate to a more secure location. Approval for that never came to
UNRWA. In addition, the school’s coordinates had been formally conveyed to
the Israeli authorities on 12 occasions, most recently at 10:56 this
morning.

These Palestinians, many of them women and children had come to this school
for refuge believing that a UN installation would offer them a higher level
of safety and security having been displaced from their homes as a result of
the current fighting. That belief was based on the binding commitment of the
international community and on the binding obligation of parties to the
conflict under international law to respect the inviolability and sanctity
of UN premises, and on the many years during which UNRWA has done its utmost
to provide them protection.

This is the fourth time in the past four days that an UNRWA school has been
struck by explosive projectiles. Today’s tragedy was yet another
illustration that no one in Gaza is safe. I call once again on all parties
to this conflict to recognize and respect the sanctity, neutrality and
inviolability of UN premises. I further call for an immediate cease-fire to
end the killing and maiming as well as the devastation and traumas that will
mark the population for decades. Enough is enough.
– Ends –
Background information

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949
and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some
five million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine
refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve
their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their
plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social
services, camp infrastructure and improvement, and microfinance.



Financial support to UNRWA has not kept pace with an increased demand for
services caused by growing numbers of registered refugees, expanding need,
and deepening poverty. As a result, the Agency's General Fund (GF),
supporting UNRWA’s core activities and 97 per cent reliant on voluntary
contributions, has begun each year with a large projected deficit. Currently
the deficit stands at US$ 68 million.

For more information, please contact:
Christopher Gunness
UNRWA Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 240 2659
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0267
c.gunness@unrwa.org

Sami Mshasha
UNRWA Arabic Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 216 8295
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0724
s.mshasha@unrwa.org