UPDATED ON:
Thursday, January 15, 2009
22:02 Mecca time, 19:02 GMT
News Middle East
Israelis shell hospitals and UN HQ
Israel's bombing of the UN compound in Gaza has outraged UN chief Ban Ki-moon
[AFP]
Three hospitals and a UN compound have been bombed by Israel as troops continue
to advance into the densely-populated Gaza City.
Around 500 people were sheltering in the Al-Quds hospital in the city's
southwestern Tal Al-Hawa district when it was bombed by Israeli jets and set
ablaze on Thursday morning.
Hospital officials said the fire was sparked by a "phosphorus shell".
"We have been able to control the fire in the hospital but not in the
administrative building," one hospital official said.
"We hope that the flames don't spread again to the wings of the hospital."
Two hospitals east of Gaza City were also hit by Israeli shells as Gazans fled
tanks advancing into the city.
It was no immediately clear if any casualties following the raids.
UN fire 'still raging'
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The Israelis also bombed a UN compound in Gaza City, setting fire to warehouses
of badly-needed food and medical aid and prompting international outrage.
Around 700 Palestinians were sheltering in the UN complex at the time of the
strikes which left two civilians and three staff members injured.
Adnan Abu Hasna, a spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency
(Unrwa), said fires were still raging hours after the attack and "tens of
millions of dollars worth of aid" had been destroyed.
John Ging, the director of Unrwa operations in the Strip, also accused the
Israelis of using phosphorus shells.
"They are phosphorus fires so they are extremely difficult to put out because,
if you put water on, it will just generate toxic fumes and do nothing to stop
the burning," he said.
Israel insists all weapons used in the conflict comply with international law.
Unrwa officials said they would evacuate the complex.
'Investigation needed'
Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, justified shelling the UN headquarters
claiming armed Palestinians within it had fired at Israeli troops first.
"It is absolutely true that we were attacked from that place … but the
consequences were very sad and I apologise for it," he said.
"There were no militants in our compound and... [the Israelis] are changing
their story saying militants were 'in the vicinity'"
Christopher Gunness, Unrwa spokesman
However, Christopher Gunness, a spokesman for Unrwa, robustly denied that
Palestinian fighters were among refugees sheltering there.
"At no stage during the fighting today did any Israeli official pick up the
phone and tell us there were militants in our compound.
"We always take action against militants ... there were no militants in our
compound and now they [the Israelis] are changing their story, saying militants
were 'in the vicinity'," he said.
Gunness called for a "proper investigation" into the incident.
Louis Michel, the European Aid Commissioner, also condemned the bombing of the
UN complex, branding it "unacceptable".
"I am deeply shocked and dismayed to learn of this incident ... I have made it
very clear that all sides must respect international humanitarian law.
"It is unacceptable that the UN headquarters in Gaza has been struck by Israeli
artillery fire," he said.
Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, strongly condemned the incident and
demanded a full explanation from Tzipi Livni, the Israeli foreign minister,
during talks held on Thursday in Tel Aviv.
Ban said Ehud Barak, the Israeli defence minister, had apologised for the
attack describing it as a "grave mistake".
A Red Crescent office near Gaza City and the main mosque in the southern city
of Rafah were also shelled as the Israelis pushed deeper into the Strip.
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
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