Even though we all know Israel officially crossed the line a long time ago, attacking the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza cements their status as being absolutely out of their minds.

Israel’s military fired shells at the agency on Thursday, because, they claim, Hamas militants were firing on them from near the compound and then ran inside to take cover.‚ 

The solution? Strike UN headquarters…

UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told him the strike was a “grave mistake,” the New York Times reports. The secretary general, who visited Israel on Thursday to try and press for a ceasefire, told media he expressed “strong protest and outrage” toward Israel.

Christopher Gunness, a spokesman for the Relief and Works Agency, told media that Israel had been provided with the coordinates for all UN facilities in Gaza, which could signal another attack forthcoming.

This strike came as Israeli military push further into Gaza, forcing thousands of residents to frantically flee their homes.

Many other buildings were hit in the city’s center, including a building housing several media organizations.

This isn’t the first time Israel has attacked a UN facility in the 20-day offensive. Earlier, a shell landed just outside a UN school in Norther Gaza, killing at least 40 Palestinians.

Israel, in a feeble attempt to justify the deaths, said that they were being fired at from just a yard away from the school, and that one of their retaliation strikes fell “off the mark,” the New York Times reports.

On a more positive note,‚ Egypt‚ has confirmed major breakthroughs in their attempt to pass an interim ceasefire that could now be less than a week away. Amos Gilad, a senior Israeli defense official, went to‚ Egypt‚ recently to further the talks, according to the New York Times.

The death toll in Gaza has officially surpassed 1000.

About The Author

Sachin Seth is the Blast Magazine world news reporter. He writes the Terra blog. You can visit his website at http://sachinseth.com or follow him on twitter @sachinseth

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