THE Prime Minister has announced an extra £3 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza, while the Scottish Government is giving £500,000 to help provide water, food and medical assistance to those affected by the conflict.
The latest funding brings the total pledged by the UK Government to £10m and comes as David Cameron again called for an unconditional ceasefire. He described the continuing events as "completely tragic and ghastly; the loss of life is appalling, it is heart-rending watching these scenes on our television".
Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary general, said the shelling of one its schools in Gaza was "outrageous and unjustifiable" and demanded "accountability and justice" after at least 15 Palestinians were killed and 90 others injured. Many were children.
The Israeli military, which insists it does not target civilians, said it was investigating the incident at the Jabaliya Girls' Elementary School, but claimed: "Hamas militants fired mortar shells from the vicinity of the school and our soldiers responded by firing towards the origins of the fire."
Following the shelling, Pierre Krahenbuhl, Commissioner-General of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said: "The world stands disgraced."
Mr Cameron noted that people should remember that while ceasefires had been observed by the Israelis, they had not been by Hamas, which continued to launch indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israel. Hamas has said it will not stop fighting until a blockade is lifted.
l An Edinburgh Fringe Festival show supported by the Israeli government is facing an uncertain future after the venue cancelled its booking. The Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign organised the demonstration last night and vowed to continue action until Incubator Theatre's The City, which had been due to take place at the Underbelly, was cancelled.
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