Press release

British ministers comment on deaths at UN school

Foreign and International Development Secretaries react to deaths at UNWRA school in Gaza.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and International Development Secretary Justine Greening said:

We are shocked by the reports of the killing of at least 15 people and the injury of many more at an UNRWA school in Gaza yesterday, including women and children sheltering inside.

International Humanitarian Law is clear that all feasible precautions must be taken to avoid harm to civilians during a military attack.

Israel has the right to defend itself, but its response must be proportionate and it must do everything possible to avoid loss of civilian life.

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Published 25 July 2014