The US and UN have condemned the bombing of a school housing displaced civilians in Gaza.

Israel said the cease-fire was only partial and applied to areas where Israeli soldiers were not currently operating. It told residents not to return to areas they had previously been asked to evacuate

31 July 201407:08·2 min read·By Gringo Media

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the attack, which killed 16, was "outrageous". Israel said that its military was responding to mortar rounds launched from near the school.

More than 100 people died in Gaza on Wednesday, Palestinian officials said. The shooting of a market near Gaza City killed 17, while booby traps claimed the lives of three Israeli soldiers.

The Gaza health ministry said 106 people had been killed on Wednesday, bringing the overall death toll to 1,336. Most have been civilians. On the contrary, 58 Israelis have been killed, 56 soldiers and two civilians.

The UN expressed outrage at the attack on the school in the Jabaliya refugee camp.Israel had been told 17 times that the school was housing displaced people, saying the attack caused "universal shame".More than 3,000 civilians had sought shelter at the school.

Mr Ban later said: "I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. It is outrageous. It is unjustifiable, and it demands accountability and justice. Nothing is more shameful than attacking sleeping children."

Bernadette Meehan, the spokeswoman of the US National Security Council, also condemned the bombing of the school. She said: "We are extremely concerned that thousands of internally displaced Palestinians who have been called on by the Israeli military to evacuate their homes are not safe in UN designated shelters in Gaza." She also condemned "those responsible for hiding weapons in United Nations facilities in Gaza". Israel has regularly accused Hamas, which controls Gaza, of hiding weapons in such facilities.

The Israeli military said in a statement that its "initial inquiry suggests militants fired mortars from the vicinity of the school in Jabaliya". It said soldiers had "responded by firing towards the origin of fire". Both Mr Ban and Ms Meehan called for a speedy ceasefire.

The attack on the market in Shejaiya killed 17 people and wounded 160 as hundreds tried to buy fruit and vegetables. The attack there and in Khan Younis came during a four-hour humanitarian ceasefire called by the Israelis after the school attack. However, Israel said the cease-fire was only partial and applied to areas where Israeli soldiers were not currently operating. It told residents not to return to areas they had previously been asked to evacuate.

Hamas had rejected the cease-fire as meaningless and "media exploitation". Israel said rockets continued to be fired from Gaza, with more than 50 launched on Wednesday.

The current conflict, now in its 23rd day, is the longest between Israel and militants from Gaza. A 2012 offensive lasted for eight days, and the 2008 conflict went on for 22 days.

By Adriana Rueda

Source: English News; BBC News

Image: BBC News Middle East