Lerner

Colonel Lerner, the Israeli military spokesman, said he was “not aware of any civilian casualties” as a result of the strike.

Col Lerner suggested that Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives would have “felt relatively safe” at the building, because it belonged to the UN.

“It was a privilege to watch him grow as a player and a person throughout his illustrious career,” Lerner said in his statement.

“This is a little bit disappointing to us,” Lerner said, adding that the museum is raising funds to offer a virtual reality experience of the interior.

Fearing that some of the civilians posed a threat, the soldiers then opened fire on those approaching in what Lerner described as a "limited response".