UN special coordinator condemns Israel's shelling of Palestinian facilities

The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Terje Roed-Larsen, condemned Sunday's shelling by Israel of Palestinian facilities in Gaza, which resulted in substantial damage to United Nations offices in Gaza and injury to two UN employees.

The Palestine Media Center reports on its website that Larsen said in a press statement that Israel's security needs will not be met by hitting civilian targets or by destroying the Palestinian's ability to police and maintain order. Roed-Larsen also expressed outrage that Israel deployed bombs of heavy tonnage in such close proximity to civilian areas and United Nations facilities.

The blasts blew out all of the windows on the first floor of UNESCO, including the windows in Roed-Larsen's office. Roed-Larsen expressed relief that there were no facilities or further injuries: a significant number of UN staff were on the premises and avoided injury largely because the office's windows area coated in a shatter-resistant film.

Roed-Larsen noted that this is the third time that UNESCO offices have sustained damage as a result of shelling.