UN blames Israelis for attack on compound but doesn't mention Hamas, says forced to reduce Gaza footprint

The United Nations is once again under the microscope for blaming Israel for an attack on a compound as it opts to curb its footprint in Gaza, according to the world body.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric claimed that "information currently available" indicated that a strike on the U.N.'s Deir al Balah compound on March 19 was "caused by an Israeli tank." One U.N. employee was killed in the incident, and six others were wounded, Dujarric said. 

On the date of the incident, the Israel Defense Forces Tweeted that "contrary to reports, the IDF did not strike a U.N. compound in Deir el Balah." The IDF asked media outlets "to act with caution regarding unverified reports."

The IDF told Fox News Digital Monday that the U.N.'s claim was "absolutely not accurate." 

While his statement named Israel, it stopped short in naming the terrorist group Hamas or other extremist groups operating in Gaza. "The location of this U.N. compound was well known to the parties to the conflict," Dujarric continued. "I reiterate that all parties to the conflict are bound by international law to protect the absolute inviolability of U.N. premises. Without this, our colleagues face intolerable risks as they work to save the lives of civilians." Dujarric added that the "Secretary-General strongly condemns these strikes and demands a full, thorough and independent investigation on this incident."

Truzman said the IDF's explanation was "highly plausible." 

"Hamas has become highly skilled at persuading the public that it does not operate from civilian infrastructure - a demonstrably false assertion," Truzman said. In a tactic he has "witnessed for years," he said that "Hamas and its allies deliberately embed themselves within civilian areas to evade detection." 

"The public must understand that Hamas' top priority is not safeguarding Palestinian civilians but ensuring the Islamist group's survival," Truzman said.