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Israeli tanks kill forty at UN school
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor06.01.09
UP to 40 people were killed today when Israeli tanks shelled close to a school in the Gaza Strip where hundreds were seeking refuge.
Two shells exploded outside the UN-run school, spraying shrapnel on those inside and outside the building in northern Gaza.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said she was seeking information on the attack at al-Fakhora school in Jabalya refugee camp.
Reuters journalists filmed bodies scattered on the ground amid pools of blood and torn shoes and clothes. A donkey also lay on the ground in its own blood.
Earlier an Israeli air strike killed three Palestinians at another school administered by the United Nations in the Gaza Strip. In both cases, the schools had been used as shelters for those displaced by Israel's offensive against Hamas militants. Israel has accused Hamas of using schools, mosques and residential areas for cover.
The deaths raised to 75 the number of Palestinian civilians killed today, according to medical officials.
They said four militants also died in fighting today and put the total Palestinian toll since Israel began its offensive on 19 December at 629.
Israeli troops today intensified their onslaught by advancing further into Palestinian territory.
Some of the heaviest exchanges came in Gaza City's Shajaiyeh district, a Hamas stronghold, where militants responded to the Israeli bombardment with rocket and machinegun fire.
Israeli troops seized three six-storey buildings, climbing to rooftop gun and observation positions.
They were also reported to be advancing into the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis.
Three Israeli soldiers were killed and 20 wounded when a tank accidentally fired on a building occupied by forces from the elite Golani brigade on the edge of Gaza City. Despite these deaths — Israel's first military loss since its ground offensive began four days ago — the country's leaders insisted the assault on Gaza was going to plan.Israel said a fourth soldier had died, also in an apparent “friendly fire” incident, but reported that it had killed 130 militants since the start of the ground offensive.
Israeli military spokeswoman Major Avital Leibovich said Hamas was to blame for civilian casualties.
“If Hamas chose cynically to use those civilians as human shields, then Hamas should be accountable,” she said.
At least 10 civilians were reported to have been killed today when shells hit houses on the edge of Gaza City and in the Jebaliya camp.
Five more civilians died when a shell fired by an Israeli ship hit their house on the Gaza shore. Residents said it apparently fired at a group of Islamic Jihad militants next to the house. Two of them were killed in the blast.
Witnesses also reported seeing Israeli tanks in Khan Younis, close to the border with Egypt, in what appears to be a fresh move by Israel to prevent Hamas using the area as a conduit for weapons.
Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar exhorted Palestinians to fight the Israeli forces and target Israeli civilians and Jews abroad. “They have legitimised the killing of their people all over the world by killing our people,” he said in a video broadcast on Hamas TV.
French president Nicolas Sarkozy, on a visit to Damascus, asked Syria to use its influence to persuade Hamas to co-operate in international peace efforts.
Reader views (24)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Shame on the Arab Leaders for not standing together.
- Ahmed, Durban South Africa
The 8000 rockets Hamas fired in to Israil is landing in the area that Israil forced them out off in the first place and then built their own settlements. Did Israil not think that these people will fight to want their land back.
The range of the rockets hamas fires is a maximum of 35 Km which does not reach the areas designated by the UN borders agreed on. So Israil stole the palastinians lands and want them to be silent.
The Israilis sent their own people to live in this area and then expect them to be safe.
The fact that Hamas has suiside bombers and rockets does not justify killing women and children. 50% of the deaths and injuries are women and children
Israil is just creating another generation that groups like hamas can draw upon.
- ahmed, Durban South Africa
Unlike countries like Australia, Canada, south Africa and America Israel was never a Colonialist country rather it was a shelter for Jews that survived the holocaust. Or maybe even a very fancy refugee camp. Their suffer suffer just doesn't look so "good" on the television so that BBC journalists can "sympathize" with them. If we simply measure justice by the number of dead bodies then Germany is in the right side of WW2 and the UK and US should have been charged with war crimes in Nirenberg....
It's a shame that Europe doesn't support Israel both politically and militarily and let things deteriorate and only remember to say something when Israel fights back against terror (yes 8000 rockets = "terror").
- Martin Thomas, London area
How long would the UK restrain if a terrorist neighbor, who insist that its main goal is to destruct the UK, and keep launching rockets to UK cities (3500 during 2008, the year of ceasefire....)? Would that be EIGHT Years? I wander...
Israel called for eight years - stop that rocketing. Over one million citizens leave in an alert of find-a-shelter-in-20-seconds --- how long would YOU accept it??
Israel has NEVER targeted civilians: However, when terrorists a firing form a building, the army must respond to the source of fire. Or they're dead by the next shot. Every army, including the UK army, do the same: however, their enemy is not hiding behind civilians. In many cases the Israeli army calls Palestinian residents on the phone and informs them that it intends to bomb a nearby building and they should distance themselves from the vicinity. But Hamas, in contrast, hides behind civilians, deliberately situating its installations and arms warehouses among them.
In the jungle of the middle east, not responding means weakness. And if you're week, they'll kill you.
- Abe Ariew, Haifa, Israel
Did I miss something? did one side end the cease fire? I wonder if I can guess who!
- Frank, Dorchester Dorset
As much as i defend Israels right to protect there people this is just indefednsable, absolute horror.
- Brian, Wiltshire
This problem needs the wisdom of Soloman, And who amongst us has got that at this moment in time??
- Kenneth Wilford, Ashford Kent
This is a barbaric attack and terrorist state on civilian in Gaza, and they have the right to live in freedom, because Israel over the international Law, but need to be punished and Palestine people have the right to fight for their freedom, for the last 9 months people in Gaza ware suffering siege and murder from Israel and the whole word can’t react. This is the time for Palestine people to get their freedom with a support from the community world, stop the killing and stop the terro of Israel!!!
- Alen, London, Islington
Sarah,
why did you choose to ignore all the details and circumstance in your polemic?
- Scott, London
Let's be fair each side is as bad as the other and had good reason to be so. Hamas is opening supporting horrific acts of violence such as suicide bombing but then again the population of Gaza are trapped and have no other way to respond. Israel likewise are clearly using excessive force and been found to use human shields and munitions contrary to international law but then again who wants suicide bombing in their towns and rockets raining from the skies. Each side's international supporters needs to step in and sort out this mess after all it was the international community which created it by carving up such disputed lands in 1922 and 1947. Blaming one side over the other is as pointless as the violence they're employing.
- Chris, London
I am more than aware that Hamas want a fight, how ever mis-guided that maybe.
But there is a reason they feel the need to fight. Israel's reaction, how ever good the intention of stopping rock maybe, isnt going to stop the problem. It may stop it for 6 months but it wont stop it forever.
It is time for this to be resolved for the good of all.
- Liberal Thinker, UK
It's extraordinary what a twisted mess the Israel/Palestine thing is. And how much blood and tears, destruction and bloodymindedness is involved every few months. And how much stuff is written about it - ad nauseam. We learn more in our media about this lot than any other countries. Send in the UN.
- John Problem, Hackney Wick, London, UK
liberal thinker, we're all animals just some of these revolutionary barbariams are less civilised than others.
Hamas have been trying to provoke a confrontation for over a year now, this cannot be in dispute. they wanted to opportunity to canvass the court of public opinion, and they have got it. unfortunately it hasn't been as favourable as their zealots believed it would be.
oh, and Haz, whilst I may not be jewish even I could see the couched anti-semitism in your reply to stephen.
- Scott, London
Having read the comments of your correspondents to this article I truly despair! There is no hope! Humanity, no chance!
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London.
The people of Gaza are imprisoned by walls, stripped of their dignity and their right to live in freedom. This is nothing more than a 'turkey shoot.' How many of you writing in your comments would be willing to put up with such conditions? Have we learned nothing from the events of 60 years ago? Clearly not. The victims from way back then have become perpetrators of a heinous crime that breaks Geneva convention and several UN resolutions. What a savage lot we've become.
- Sarah, Richmond
the left wingers will never condemn islamic/muslim extremists,eg arab/muslims comitting genocide in the sudan complete silence from the left.also no condemnation of mugabe either.it sums up these left wing hypocrites.john mckim glasgow
- John Mckim, glasgow.uk
Anyone who thinks this is the "end game" for the troubles is sadly mistaken. Force will not work in this situation. Both sides are guilty of many unsavory things during this conflict. Both sides have extremists fueling the war. Both sides need to put down their weapons for the sake of the children. Unfortunately I cannot see either side backing down and this conflict will prevail for another 100 years.
- Dannyp, Egham
Hamas have been murdering Jewish children and through their support for Islamic terrorism worldwide, everybody else's children as well.
At the same time they hide behind their own children.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Stephen Rothbart , not really biased are you ?????
- Haz, london
Hamas exhibit all the psychological traits of playground bullies. It is a great pity that European democracies do not have the guts to face them down without equivocation. Is it really too much to ask of the international community to stand united against organisations that lob missiles at civilian populations and send their children in front of them into battle?
- Bloke, London
Stephen,
if you treat people like animals they will act like animals.
- Liberal Thinker, UK
"End game" is a very misleading and facile expression here, though, isn't it? Remember the "victory" in the Iraq War? Thought not. This will rumble on for generations, because violence ALWAYS begets violence, without fail. It's the children on both sides who have been outrageously betrayed by their parents, who will have radicalized them for certain. Only the younger generation, or elder statesmen and women of genuine compassion, have the potential to solve this crisis. Military or "terrorist" leaders MUST be sidelined from the process. They've done their piece, and failed. Again.
- Karli, Tottenham, London
Always bleeding hearts when Israel responds to years of terror and threats from Hamas. Why don't people use the energy they put into criticising Israel constantly, to encourage the palestinians to lay down their weapons which don't help anybodies cause. Instead of that western liberals have actively encouraged this pathetic so called "resistance" for eight years and the Palestinians have sweet F.A. to show for it.
- Sam, wisbech
We see Hamas' true colours when their spokesman says they will target Jewish children everywhere in response to the attack on Gaza. The only thing is, they already have been. They were the ones sending suicide bombers into Israeli towns and rockets at Israeli schools, long before Israel attacked Gaza. It's why Israel went in.
Let's here Annie lennox condemn that for a change.
- Stephen Rothbart, Prague, Czech Republic
