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UN chief 'outraged' as Israeli shells hit Gaza headquarters
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor15.01.09
THE United Nations today expressed "outrage" after its headquarters in Gaza City was hit by Israeli shells.
At least three white phosphorus shells hit the UN compound, where 700 civilians fleeing the fighting were sheltering, wounding three staff members and producing clouds of black smoke.
Israel issued a rapid apology for the strike, saying it was a "grave mistake", as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spoke of his outrage at the attack.
The shelling, which forced the UN to suspend aid deliveries as its trucks were trapped, came as Mr Ban warned that civilian casualties in the 20-day conflict had reached an "unbearable point".
Medical officials now put the Palestinian death toll at 1,055. Thirteen Israelis have also been killed.
The UN protest followed a renewed Israeli push into the heart of Gaza City with fierce urban fighting reported with Palestinian militants.
Other buildings hit during today's offensive included the Al Quds hospital, which was engulfed by flames.
Elsewhere thousands of residents were reported to be fleeing the city, some in pyjamas and others pushing elderly relatives in wheelchairs.
The sound of sustained machinegun fire was heard echoing off the walls of tower blocks in residential districts, while cameras filmed repeated artillery fire from the edge of the city.
Israeli tanks and bulldozers were seen moving in with the troops as the offensive was backed up by about 70 airstrikes and shelling from gunboats off the coast. At least 15 Palestinians were reported to have been killed.
Hamas officials suggested the latest onslaught was designed to maintain "pressure" on the militant organisation while discussions over a ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, continued.
Hamas has already said it has agreed to accept the outline principles of the proposed peace plan - although potentially crucial details have still to be finalised - and Israel today expressed optimism about the agreement.
Mark Regev, a spokesman for Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, said: "There is momentum in these discussions. We are hopeful a deal based on a total cessation of Hamas fire into Israel, and an arms embargo to prevent Hamas rearming, is close and attainable."
The offensive is still backed by Israelis, with a new poll showing 78 per cent of its citizens regard it as a success so far.
Palestinian officials today estimated the cost of the conflict in damage to buildings and infrastructure in Gaza had reached about $1.4billion.
Reader views (9)
Israel is a monster. We are witnessing a war-crime.
- Clive Allen, Brighton, UK
Jack Charity, Shreveport, USA
The answer is 'reality' rather than emotive semantics.
The Warsaw Ghetto wasn't a sovereign nation that was launching fire and forget missiles into their neighbour's cities with the intention of indiscriminate deaths as a part of a terror campaign. The Nazis were not targeting only the fighters, but everyone from the new-borns to the near-death elderly. The Nazis weren't placing fire positions in and around 'safe-haven' sites for innocent civilians with the intention of provoking propaganda-rich incidents for the world press and the gullible - not to mention the terrorist's apologists! - to wax lyrical over!
The sad thing is that it even needs to be explained to you!
- Rogan, Irving
Im afraid Isreal is doomed.It is only a matter of time,thay are digging there own graves by building such a legasy of hatered,the balance of power in the world is changeing,As thay say it is not if but when.
- Kev, London-UK
Why the outrage, it is what can be expected.
- Waine, mers uk
This is a serious question. Could someone please explain to me how this incursion of Gazza, with very high loss of life (many being women and children), is different in principle to the Warsaw Ghetto atrocity?
- Jack Charity, Shreveport, USA
It is now time for the EU and other countries to break off diplomatic relations with Israel. Israel needs to be warned that these atrocities in Gaza will no longer be tolerated and render them liable to war crimes charges and crimes aginst humanity. Even the UN is disgusted at the indiscriminate attacks on its own personnel and has called for an immediate end to this. Strong sanctions and the isolation of Israel is the only way they will learn that these are the consequences of disproportionate retaliation and the wanton killing of children and civilians.Israel has lost any shred of credibility in the world and should be shunned accordingly.
- Nathan, London, UK
Adam, Harrow. It clear that Israel holds the UN in contempt since it has ignored more UN Resolutions than all the other member states put together. All with the enthusiastic support of the USA. The only answer is for Israel to address the root of the problem - leave the land they are illegally occupying.
- Maurice, Tottenham, UK
Is the UN working with HAMAS to deliberately create more problems for Israel by allowing Hamas troops to use its buildings and cars to attack the IDF or are HAMAS using fake UN veheicles in which case why no condemnation of using the UN as a human shield.
It would fit with the Durban conference which blames all human rights abuses on Isreal while ignoring everything else from Darfur where the death toll is in the hundreds of thousands to the stonings in Iran and political executions in China. Its cool as long as its not Israel doing it. And the definition of double standards is???
UN honest broker....fat chance.
- Douglas, London
Why did the UN fail to condemn the daily rocket attacks on Southern Israel for the last 8 years or do anything about them?
Why does the UN allow their vehicles and buildings to be used by HAMAS and other terror groups to attack Israel?
Why did the UN allow the resolution at the 2001 Durban conference on racism to condemn just one country, Israel, as racist while ignoring all the HR abuses in all other countries.
The UN is a discredited organisation. No wonder Israel holds it in such contempt.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
