UN panel probes Israeli attacks on its Gaza institutions

A UN inquiry committee started Wednesday probing the Israeli attacks on the world body's institutions during the Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip last summer, a senior official said.

Robert Turner, the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) director of operations in the Gaza Strip, told reporters that the committee was specialized in investigating the Israeli attacks on the UN establishments during the offensive.

"Members of the committee began to visit the targeted sites, holding meetings and talks with related officials and individuals," Xinhua quoted Turner as saying.

In November, UN chief Ban ki-moon decided to form the committee to investigate the Israeli attacks on the international organisation's buildings, schools, clinics, cars and headquarters.

During the 50-day Israeli large-scale military air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip, which ended Aug 26, Israeli army tanks and war jets struck with bombs three UNRWA schools, killing more than 50 refugees.

Meanwhile, Turner announced that the UNRWA has already paid $22 million to Palestinian refugees, whose houses were destroyed by the Israeli army during the offensive on the Gaza Strip.

He added that, according to the UNRWA's evaluations, the organisation will be in need of $720 million for renovating the badly damaged houses and paying rents to families who need temporary housing.