(VOVworld) – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday strongly criticized Israel for attacking a UN school in the Gaza Strip that killed 10 people. Ban called this act a “gross violation of international law” and asked for an investigation to bring those responsible to account.

A Palestinian carries a wounded boy following an Israeli air strike at a UN-run school. (Photo: Reuters)

State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki urged the US to meet standards and avoid civilian casualties.

The European Union has called for an end to the violence in Gaza but condemned rockets fired at Israel and reiterated Israel’s right of self-defense. The EU statement urged Palestinian and Israeli leaders to stop the senseless violence and move toward arrangements to ensure peaceful and dignified coexistence based on mutual respect.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is on an Egypt trip, has called on Israel and Hamas to stop fighting and urged Israel to remove its blockade in Gaza. Wang announced Beijing’s support of Cairo’s proposal for a ceasefire and emergency humanitarian aid worth 1.5 million USD to recover the Gaza Strip.

The UK and France also hoped both sides would adopt an unconditional truce.