10 killed in another attack on Gaza's school shelter

At least 10 people were killed Sunday when an Israeli shell hit a UN-run school-shelter in southern Gaza city of Rafah, a health ministry official said, as the toll in the current Israeli offensive in the coastal enclave crossed 1,749.

According to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the school was housing almost 3,000 refugees, Xinhua reported.

Almost half a million Palestinians have been displaced since the start of Israeli military operation July 8, among whom 240,000 are currently residing in the UN-run school shelters.

Sunday morning's shelling was not the first time that Israeli forces targeted a UN facility for sheltering. On Wednesday, at least 15 were killed and dozens injured when Israeli artillery fire hit a school used as a shelter in the northern city of Jabaliya.

After the Jabaliya school-shelter attack, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon slammed Israel for an "outrageous" and " unjustified" attack on the UN school, saying "nothing is more shameful than attacking sleeping children."

Meanwhile, Israeli military spokesman insisted Israel never intentionally targeted any UN facility and said the fire was Israeli response to rocket fires and mortars by Palestinians militants.

More than 1,749 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its assault, and nearly 10,000 injured.

Most of those killed were civilians.