Israeli forces shelled the United Nations headquarters in the Gaza Strip, setting fire to the compound and injuring at least three people.
The compound has been serving as a shelter for hundreds of people fleeing Israel's devastating offensive, and includes the headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, other offices and a school.
The compound has been serving as a shelter for hundreds of people fleeing Israel's devastating offensive, and includes the headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, other offices and a school.
A large fire was seen on the horizon along Gaza's northern border with Israel and there was a massive plume of smoke over a compound in Gaza city after a building was hit.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who was in the area on a mission to end Israel's devastating offensive against the territory, expressed his "outrage" over the incident and "demanded a full explanation".
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Ban that it was a "sad incident" for which he was "very sorry" although he stressed in their meeting that the Israeli military had come under attack first from the UN compound.
The UN has denied the Israeli allegation.
UN spokesman Chris Gunness said at no stage during the hours that the fighting engulfed its compound did anyone in the Israeli establishment, defence or otherwise, pick up the phone and tell us that there were militants in the compound.
Gunness said that international staff in Gaza had not seen any militants and he called for an investigation.
Israel launched its war on December 27, it says, in an effort to stop militant rocket fire from Gaza that has paralysed some southern Israeli communities and sown panic there.
According to UN and Palestinian medical officials some 1,100 Palestinians have been killed, roughly half of them civilians.
Israeli officials said thirteen Israelis also have died.
Israel's ceasefire demands are a guarantee from Hamas that it would completely halt rocket fire into Israel and an end to weapons smuggling into Gaza from neighbouring Egypt.
Hamas demands a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the reopening of the blockaded coastal strip's crossings to the outside world.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who was in the area on a mission to end Israel's devastating offensive against the territory, expressed his "outrage" over the incident and "demanded a full explanation".
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Ban that it was a "sad incident" for which he was "very sorry" although he stressed in their meeting that the Israeli military had come under attack first from the UN compound.
The UN has denied the Israeli allegation.
UN spokesman Chris Gunness said at no stage during the hours that the fighting engulfed its compound did anyone in the Israeli establishment, defence or otherwise, pick up the phone and tell us that there were militants in the compound.
Gunness said that international staff in Gaza had not seen any militants and he called for an investigation.
Israel launched its war on December 27, it says, in an effort to stop militant rocket fire from Gaza that has paralysed some southern Israeli communities and sown panic there.
According to UN and Palestinian medical officials some 1,100 Palestinians have been killed, roughly half of them civilians.
Israeli officials said thirteen Israelis also have died.
Israel's ceasefire demands are a guarantee from Hamas that it would completely halt rocket fire into Israel and an end to weapons smuggling into Gaza from neighbouring Egypt.
Hamas demands a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the reopening of the blockaded coastal strip's crossings to the outside world.
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Above is a story sent by AP on Gaza Attacks...it is very sad to see all the pictures & videos of the childrens body. Israeli has attacks Gaza for 21 consecutive day & i can't see any good effort to stop them.
Today, over 1000 die & still counting...
All i can do is to pray & boycott American products. But, is that enuff???
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