In further Middle East news, the number of Palestinians killed in the past three weeks of air, naval and ground attacks by Israel on Gaza has reached over 1,360. On Wednesday Israeli artillery fire left at least 16 Palestinians killed in a United Nations school. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned this attack.
US State Department spokesman Marie Harf also condemned the attack.
The UNHCR said over 3,000 Palestinians had taken refuge in that school. In Gaza clashes to this day 56 Israelis have been killed, consisting of 53 soldiers and 3 civilians.