Australia berates Israel over 'shocking' attacks

CANBERRA - Australia's government on Tuesday made its strongest criticism yet of its staunch ally Israel over the monthlong war in Gaza, with the foreign minister calling the shelling of United Nations schools "indefensible."

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop welcomed a 72-hour cease-fire that began Tuesday, and urged Israel to take all necessary steps to prevent civilian casualties.

"I am deeply troubled by the suffering being endured by the Palestinian population in Gaza, where many hundreds of innocent people have been killed, including women and children," Bishop said in a statement. "There have been a number of shocking incidents, including the indefensible shelling of three UN schools, all of which were sheltering civilians."