Israel admits firing near school

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed firing near a UN school in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza on Sunday.

"The IDF targeted three PIJ (Islamic Jihad) terrorists on board a motorcycle in the vicinity of an UNRWA school in Rafah," the army announced in a statement, referring to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

"The IDF is reviewing the consequences of this strike," the statement added.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for those responsible for the "gross violation of international humanitarian law" to be held accountable.

"This madness must stop," Ban said through his spokesperson.

The building had been sheltering some 3,000 Palestinians displaced during Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip.

It was the second time Israeli shelling hit a school in less than a week. Last week, a strike on another UN-run school in the Jabalya refugee camp killed more than a dozen people and injured more than 100.

US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement that Washington is "appalled" by the "disgraceful shelling" and called on Israel to do more to prevent civilian casualties in the war against Hamas militants.

Troop pullback?

Meanwhile, Israeli media has reported that most troops have pulled out of Gaza. However, the military has stopped short of calling the move a withdrawal.

"The troops are in the midst of redeployment to other parts of the border," Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner said.

"Indeed we are releasing troops from the front line, but the mission is ongoing," Lerner said. "Ground forces are operating. Air forces are operating."

More than 1,700 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have died in 27 days of fighting. Nearly 70 Israelis, almost all of them soldiers, have also lost their lives.

hc/mkg (Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa)