This must be International Crow-Eating Day. First Andrew Sullivan, now UN Secretary General Kofi Annan: Annan retracts remarks on IDF’s Gaza blast probe. (Hat tip: WriterMom.)

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan retracted remarks he made on Israel after the incident in which seven Palestinian family members died in Gaza.

Annan said Israel’s position on the incident is “very strange.”

Following a meeting Thursday with Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Gillerman, he told reporters that he had responded to “media speculations.” Annan added that he is waiting for Israel’s final report on the incident.

Israel officials condemned Annan’s comments which came in response to a journalist’s question about Israel’s findings: “Finding an explosive device on the beach is strange.” [Actually, he said, “To find a mine on the beach is rather odd.” —ed.]

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni ordered Gillerman to protest Annan’s comments during their meeting on Thursday.

Gillerman told Annan that Israeli citizens are under a daily threat from Qassam attacks and Israel has the right to defend its citizens.

In a press conference after the meeting, Annan said: “I responded to speculations in the press. The answer was given before Israel published its findings. We need to wait for Israel to publish its final report.”